A YOUNG woman is aiming to raise vital funds to support a project that tackles poverty in Bangladesh, where she will be volunteering for 12 weeks.

Eve Headley, 19, of Skipwith, south of York, will travel to Bangladesh in May with international development organisation Y Care International as part of the UK Government funded International Citizen Service (ICS) programme.

She will work in partnership with Bangladeshi volunteers to help lift some of the world’s poorest communities out of poverty. Before she leaves for Bangladesh she needs to raise £1,500 for Y Care International.

So far she has raised £535.

Eve said: "The money raised from my fundraising will help to make sure that the communities in developing countries continue to benefit from the work of future volunteers, so it’s vital I reach my target.

"I have already spent a week ‘living below the line’ to raise money by living on £1 a day which millions of people around the world do every day as they live below the poverty line. "

She added: "The project I’m working on aims to educate people on equal rights for men and women, sexual health and employability skills.

"I’ll be working closely alongside Bangladeshi volunteers, so it’s a great opportunity to experience another culture and make a difference at the same time.

"I’m really excited to get out there and start making a real difference to the lives of people in the developing world.”

ICS allows young people aged 18 to 25 to make a valuable contribution to sustainable development projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

On return to the UK, ICS volunteers undertake an ‘Action at Home’ project, ensuring that their new skills also benefit their local communities. More than 10,000 young people from the UK have taken part in the scheme in the last three years.

To sponsor Eve, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Eve-Headley, or text EVEC97 £5 to 70070.