A Brixington schoolgirl is following in her parents’ footsteps by jetting off to India next week and seeing for herself the work of a charity which helps starving children.

Exmouth Community College pupil Carys Humphrey, 14, from St Severn Way, flies to Bangalore to encourage the work of Christian charity Compassion.

As an advocate Carys will be visiting a number of projects and will see first-hand how Compassion works with local churches to link each of its 1,200,000 worldwide sponsors to a child in one of 26 of the world’s poorest countries.

Through the sponsorship programme the charity ensures every child receives education, nutrition, healthcare, social and emotional support and the chance of a better future.

She will be travelling with her parents Justin and Hayley, who have made the trip before, and a team from the Riverside Christian Centre in Exeter.

While in India Carys and the team will be undertaking educational, craft-based and sporting activities with orphans and children who attend numerous projects.

Although India is one of the world’s fastest growing economies the divide between rich and poor is stark; the offices of growing blue chip companies sit cheek-by-jowl next to the grinding poverty of make-shift shanty towns.

Carys said: “I am really looking forward to going to India to see the work of Compassion amongst some of the poorest children and families in the communities around Bangalore.”

Ian Hamilton, director of Compassion said: “It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the tremendous needs of children in the developing world. Compassion offers a very practical and meaningful way for people to make a difference to those living in poverty.”

You can sponsor a child for just �21 per month and you can support Carys by collecting and donating

craft materials including colouring pens, pencils and glue sticks.

You can send materials and money to Carys Humphreys, c/o Riverside Christian Centre, 13-14 Okehampton Street, Exeter, EX4 1DU by Sunday October 16.

For more information go to www.compassionuk.org.