A YOUNG volunteer from Bude spent Christmas 4,000 miles away from home in order to help those living in poverty.

Alanah-May Swain, 25, spent Christmas in India this year, working on a project to combat poverty and inequality in the country — where almost a quarter of the population are living on less than $1.25 (about £1) a day.

Whilst in India, Alanah-May was working with a team of young British and Indian volunteers on a project that aims to empower women, support young people’s development and improve in the local child education and healthcare systems.

The volunteers have been paying special attention to promoting girls’ education as they often miss out due to patriarchal norms in Indian society.

Alanah-May travelled to India in November and missed spending Christmas at home with her friends and family in order to spend the festive season continuing the good work she has already started.

She will spend the rest of her time in India organising public events to raise awareness of women’s rights and will also be holding sessions such as youth groups, language exchanges and women’s meetings.

Alanah-May is currently living with a local Indian family whilst in India, so she can fully immerse herself in the local community and better understand the challenges the community face.

She said: “My host family have been so open and welcoming. Living with them has fully enriched my experience, giving me the opportunity to see how life really operates in this village We’ve had a great time exchanging beauty tips as well as home habits and traditions.”

Before Christmas Alanah-May said: “Christmas will be such a different experience this year. I will be spending it celebrating in the morning with my host family and in the afternoon with my volunteer friends. Some of us UK volunteers are organising traditional British sessions such as charades and carol singing to give everyone a festive day.

“I think I’ll find it strange having curry, or ‘subjee’ as it’s called here, as my Christmas meal but it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity so I’m definitely not complaining.”

Alanah-May said she was having a ‘fantastic time’ in India and has learnt many new things, she said: “I’ve immersed myself in the culture and am becoming a native when it comes to eating with my hands. Although the projects have been challenging at times, it’s really amazing to see when difference is made. For example, we had been encouraging girls and boys to play volleyball together rather than separately to inspire gender equality.

“One day we came home from a local village and found about 30 youths plating together in harmony without us having to encourage them. It was a small yet huge moment for me.”

Alanah-May was given the opportunity to volunteer through the UK government funded International Citizen Service (ICS) programme. To find out more about how to become a volunteer with ICS visit their website www.volunteerics.org