A GROUP of students from Ryedale School are fundraising for a trip to central America.

Next summer, 12 pupils will be part of the first Camps International team to travel to Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Student Nell Thackray, 15, said: “During the month-long trip we will be setting up social and environmental projects to physically improve educational and basic infrastructure to help raise the living standards of a rural community.”

“These projects will be continued over the years by future teams and have a life-changing impact on the people living there.

“Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, with 48 per cent of Nicaraguans living below the poverty line. Costa Rica is one of the world’s most beautiful and bio-diverse countries, and for a group of teenagers to be given the chance to volunteer, explore and learn new skills in parts of the world so different from ours, is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

In order to fund this trip, each team member must raise £4,080 and they are being supported by geography teacher, Vicky Wright, who kick-started their fundraising campaign by living under the poverty line for a week.

Nell said: “Ms Wright will also be helping us to raise awareness of poverty, as well as helping each of her students to get a little closer to our amazing adventure.”

To donate, go to ryedaleschool.org/latest-news/ and follow the link to the justgiving page.