STUDENTS are looking forward to an African summer when they head to Zambia to work as school and homecare volunteers.
Twelve students from Trinity Academy, in Thorne, will take on teaching duties and help adults, who are HIV positive, at home.
The expedition, which departs on June 30, revives a trip Trinity Academy students did in 2014 to Zambia.
All but two of this year's group of sixth formers will have just finished their A levels and will complete the volunteering mission prior to starting university.
Clarissa Smith, 17, who plans to study landscape architecture at Sheffield University, said: "It should be an amazing experience. My dad was born in Kenya and I feel I know a lot about Africa and have a connection with it, but I've never been. I've always wanted to go so I'm very excited."
Head boy Morgan Wardle, who has A levels in maths, further maths, physics and chemistry to get through first, added: "It's a fantastic opportunity and I feel that if I didn't do it now I probably never will."
The rest of the group are Caitlin Houlbrook, Elly McMurdo, Carly Langston, Lauren Ellis, Molly Mennie, Ellie McCreadie, Tina Severn and Jade Irvine, and Year 12 students Thomas Bunce and Ethan Green.
The students will use their skills in art and design, music, science, religious studies, English and drama to help teach children at Donata special school and a rural school at Miloso as well as visiting Chengelo School, a Christian boarding school where former Trinity Academy teacher Andrew Cowling is principal.
They will also help with construction work, visit people in their homes and carry out any tasks as home helpers.
The group will be based at the Ndubaluba Outdoor Centre and will get to go on an expedition to Mount Mumpu, the tallest free standing mountain in Zambia, accompanied by teachers Gerard Dixey, Lorna Hadwin, Chris Gruar and Amanda Lloyd.
The students have already raised around £4,000 towards a £12,000 fundraising target through a host of activities including a bag pack at Sainsbury's, a Year 7 Valentine's dance, selling hot chocolate at break-times and running a tuck shop.
They are also taking part in Race To Africa, a sponsored challenge for each member of the group to row, cycle or run 20 miles.
Clarissa added: "We're hoping to persuade other students to take up the challenge and contribute to our total, and we have other events planned including an afternoon tea, an Easter egg hunt and a man versus food challenge."
- Anyone who wants to donate to the fundraising target can do so via https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jade-irvine or https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/carly-langston