Celeb-signed goodies raffled

Oct 7 2008 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A BIG COUNTY teenager is preparing to jet off to India as part of a 10-week scheme that could change her life.

The trip – organised by volunteer-work specialists Raleigh International – will see Almondbank youngster Amanda Comrie fly abroad for the first time on Friday.

The 17-year-old hopes her time in Asia will help her develop the self-confidence necessary to enrol on a course at Perth College upon her return.

“I’m normally quite shy when I’m around a group of people I don’t know.

“I’m hoping that this trip will give me more confidence.

“I’m going to help the local community build an anti-poaching camp and fresh water wells, so it’s definitely going to take me out of my comfort zone,” Amanda told the PA.

As well as community-centred conservation work with a local family in the Karnataka region of the country, Amanda will be expected to complete some gruelling physical activities whilst on the sub continent – including a 10 kilometre hike.

This level of exertion is not completely alien to the former Perth Grammar School pupil, as she recently attended a training camp in East Sussex with 100 other Raleigh International hopefuls dreaming of the trip to the sub-continent.

“There were people from all over the country at the training camp in England.

“They made us do a nine-and-a-half mile trek as a warm-up for the things we will be doing in India.

“I’d never done anything like that before, and I was very, very tired afterwards,” she said.

Kim Wilder, a partnership officer with Raleigh International’s Youth Agency Partnership Programme, said that youngsters like Amanda can benefit immensely from undertaking work overseas.

“Sometimes, when the young volunteers start our projects, they are unsure about themselves and lack confidence.

“But by the end of it they have often achieved something they have never done before, learned leadership qualities and developed communication skills.

“It is a great achievement for Amanda to be even on the plane to India, as to make it to that stage she has had to come through two residential weekends against up to 100 other people, with only 60-or-so going on the trip.”

To raise the £5000 to pay for her trip, Amanda has already conquered Ben Lawers, Perthshire’s highest peak, along with 10 other members of staff and volunteers from Perth’s City Base – where the teenager has been working full-time since leaving school last year.

Amanda now plans to raffle a selection of celebrity memorabilia – including a Rangers’ flag signed by Captain Barry Ferguson and a CD autographed by chart-topper James Morrison.

Tickets cost £1 and can be purchased from the City Base offices in Perth’s St John’s Place until the draw is made next week.