AFTER spending six months volunteering in South Africa, Leah Shepherd, 19, a regular attendee at Chilsworthy Chapel, member of Rock Solid Youth Group and former pupil at Holsworthy College, has returned home.

Leah, from Holsworthy, is a Sunday Club teacher at Chilsworthy Chapel, and is heavily involved with the worship group and holiday clubs. She recently undertook a six-month volunteering trip where she aided the Christian HIV and Aids charity ‘Ethembenti’.

Speaking on what tasks she undertook whilst in South Africa, Leah said: “This was a wonderful experience where I had the opportunity to teach English and Life Skills to vulnerable children, as well as visiting patients who were suffering from HIV, Aids and TB, in their homes.

“As well as leading Bible studies I was involved in running holiday clubs for underprivileged children, something that has developed my own personal faith.”

Whilst out in South Africa Leah was not only able to help those in need and provide Bible sessions but she also managed to really experience the culture whilst she spent some time with Zulu families.

She said: “One of the highlights of my trip was living in the township with Zulu families. As I was able to immerse myself in the Zulu culture, eating their food and living as part of their family.”

As part of her experience Leah was able to start up her own children’s choir, teaching the young people in South Africa new songs.

Speaking on how this experience as a whole has inspired her, Leah said: “Starting a children’s choir evoked my passion of singing, and it was really refreshing to see the enthusiasm of the children to learn new songs, especially those in English.

“The energy of the children I was ministering too was infectious, making it such a joy to teach them as well as introducing things like a tooth cleaning scheme and a recycling project.

“All of these new ventures were well received and I’m sure the experience will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Leah has now gone to Reading University to read History and Philosophy.