A YOUNG woman from La Paz, Bolivia has been given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit the UK.

The scheme has been organised thanks to the York-based charity International Service.

Ana Quiroga, 25, spent a year volunteering with the International Service team in Bolivia alongside 18 to 25-year-olds from the UK.

There she volunteered teaching young children from some of Bolivia’s most disadvantaged communities with the aim of enriching their education through various extra-curricular activities.

The volunteer was chosen from among 5,000 young people worldwide to have the chance to visit Britain.

She will spend ten days in London and York, sharing her inspirational story with young people from the UK.

Ana, who had previously been homeless, credits her volunteering experience for giving her the drive to go back to university and get an education.

She said: “Seeing and discovering my skills as a professional, as an individual, made me feel like I was allowed to dream again about doing something for myself.

“And now it’s led to a visit to the UK.

“This is the biggest opportunity I have ever been given.

“After my placement, my priority is now to get a degree – my volunteering experience changed my life.”