A FORMER head girl at South Bromsgrove High School is undertaking a two-week trek to Everest Base Camp to raise vital funds for vulnerable South African schoolchildren.

Since graduating sixth form in 2012, Hannah Peters has spent more than two months volunteering at Amasango Career School, which educates some of the poorest children in a town with a 70 per cent unemployment rate.

Money raised from the fundraising trek, described by Hannah as ‘the challenge of a lifetime’, will support Amasango to build a new school in Grahamstown.

Hannah told the Advertiser: “This challenge will push me to my absolute limits. As people who know me will know, physical challenges aren’t necessarily my forte.

“The expedition will take 13 days, climbing 5,400 metres above sea level.

“However it will be worth the struggle, as any money raised will be directly helping the children at Amasango gain an education which many of us take for granted.”

The 24-year-old has recently been named treasurer at Friends of Amasango UK, and dedicates her spare time to raising the charity’s profile, while also working and studying full-time for her accounting chartership.

Hannah added: “The money donated will go towards enabling some pretty wonderful kids to have access to a primary education.

“These children often have no financial support or much family backing, so the food, clothing and transport supplied by Friends of Amasango UK make attendance at school possible.

“With specialised intervention of the kind offered at Amasango, this cycle of deprivation can be broken.

“I was very fortunate to go to great schools in Alvechurch and Bromsgrove and I truly had a great education, inspired by some brilliant teachers, made great friends, and went on many school adventures.

“Now it is my time to give something back.”

Hannah is set to fly out to Kathmandu to begin her trek on March 1, and is hoping to raise £500 towards the school’s charity.

To donate, visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/hannahppeters.