A Barnsley teenager is Fiji bound on an eco-mission to help struggling communities on the island.

Rosie Redfern, 19, who studies English Literature at Liverpool John Moores University, is heading to the South Pacific for two weeks after being selected for the Volunteer Eco Students Abroad programme.

Rosie, whose family live on Upper Sheffield Road, will be making the trip to help improve local people's living conditions and their children's education.

She said: "I am so excited and happy to have been chosen. I believe we should all have an equal chance in life and hence I am trying as hard as I can to give as much back to the world as I have taken from it.

"In this short break I hope to touch as many lives as possible and help them for the better, while also undergoing a self-exploratory journey simultaneously."

She needs to raise about £1,200 to get there which will help cover costs such as hiring local skilled trades people to supervise and assist in the building projects, building materials and donations to local organisations.

She will complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer work says she would be 'immeasurably grateful' of donations by the time of the trip next July.

Rosie, who will be living with a Fijian family in their home, said: "Past volunteers have said that while this is the most rewarding part of their volunteer program, living conditions in Fiji make them realise how good life is back home.

"Families often don't have a stove, oven, shower, fridge or clean water and have limited electricity."

Each day at the village school, the teenager will be assigned to either the construction or education team.

Rosie will also help run basic workshops demonstrating proper hygiene techniques and the importance of animal welfare.