[UK's] Queensferry pupil set for Cambodia

The Linlithgow Gazette

Sunday 27 November 2011

Queensferry High School pupil Patricia Shaw (pictured) is preparing for a trip to Asia she will remember for the rest of her life.

Sixth year pupil Patricia will leave the school in May next year and in August head to Cambodia for a 12 months where she will be work in an orphanage with HIV positive children and at a local school where she will be help to teach the pupils English.

The trip is being made possible by Scottish charity Project Trust who provide gap years for 17-19 year olds leaving school.

Patricia explained: “This is something I have always wanted to do but when the people from Project Trust came to the school they certainly convinced me and helped me make my decision.”

As challenging as her stay in Cambodia may be the hard work starts now for the 17 year-old who is already planning quiz nights, charity concerts, an 80s disco, car boot sales and coffee mornings in order to raise the £5100 required before she sets off to Asia.

On top of fundraising and planning for her time abroad Patricia is also applying to universities across Scotland to join their children’s nursing courses upon her return.

There is no doubt that her upcoming Cambodian experience will certainly help those applications stand out.