My name is Louise Savage, I am 16-years-old and a student at Cator Park School studying GCSEs.

I am one of News Shopper's distributors and have delivered two rounds since I was 13-years-old.

I am hoping to take part in a four-week educational expedition to southern Tanzania in July 2007.

It is called Team Challenge Expedition and is part of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

The challenge will involve a 14-day trek and working with the local community to help build and refurbish a school.

This is not an average school trip and will certainly not be a holiday, it is a challenging expedition that will significantly benefit the local community and will teach valuable life skills such as leadership, communication and team-working, responsibility and decision-making.

I only have a few months to raise £3,085 by doing charitable events and sponsorship from companies to cover costs.

I have organised various events such as a 24-hour sponsored silence, a 15k run wearing a clown outfit, and I also have many more activities in mind.

My teachers presented me with a cheque for £100 from the Soroptimist fund for working in the community.

I am still so far away, and time is running out.

This expedition means the world to me as I am hoping to become a teacher myself.

I have been told that I am very capable, and studying hard to achieve my target, this will be the opportunity and experience of a lifetime.

For more details, email me