AN UPTON student will be giving up home comforts and travelling overseas to help build a new playground for a primary school.

Jess Harker will be flying out to Uganda, Africa, later this year where she will spend four weeks building a new playground from scratch.

She was inspired to take part in the project after she attended a Raise and Give meeting, where a guest speaker spoke about the importance of play equipment for the country's children.

The 19 year-old, who is studying Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University, said: "I’m really excited to be going to Uganda, and think that it’ll be an eye-opening experience.

"At the same time I feel a bit apprehensive, as it will be so different to anything else I know. However, I’m looking forward to meeting the children and experiencing their culture.

"While I’m sure that there’ll be some challenging moments I’m looking forward to working with a team to build a playground and, when its finished, seeing the excitement on the children’s faces."

She will be volunteering with charity East African Playgrounds, but needs to raise £800 to secure her place on the project, which will go towards materials, equipment and employing local people to help with the build.

So far Miss Harker has raised around £650 through selling Christmas cards, cake sales, a street collection and a fundraising meal at Upton restaurant Thrishna.

Next up is a sponsored walk before she leaves home shores in June.

To donate to her cause visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JessHarker1

To find out more about the charity, visit http://eastafricanplaygrounds.org