I am participating in an expedition to Tanzania in the summer of 2015, writes Thomas Hardye School pupil Abbie Rule, aged 14.

This will be a four-week expedition and will include community development work, environmental projects and wildlife conservation.

The core objectives of this expedition are to:

  • Raise the educational standards of developing communities within a rural district of Tanzania.
  • Assist with ongoing wildlife conservation programmes to preserve biodiversity and protect vulnerable habitats.

This expedition is extremely important to me because I feel that I will acquire and develop many important life skills, such as leadership and team work.

This extraordinary opportunity would educate me in situations that cannot be replicated in a classroom.

I am passionate and committed to the causes which I will be involved in and realise that even a small effort on my part could make a significant improvement to the lives of those in poverty.

I have been raising money by car washing, bag packing in local shops and organising a Christmas quiz – and this month I climbed the height of Mount Everest by walking some of the highest mountains in England such as Scafell Pike, Helvellyn and Skiddaw.

Camps International is running this programme. For more information, visit campsinternational.com I would like to thank everyone who has sponsored me so far, including Dorset Watercress Company and the Dorchester Lions. Anyone interested in sponsoring me should please email hrule@onetel.com