A YOUNG Bradford woman has been helping young people with health and social issues in one of the world’s poorest communities.

Kasi Mistry, 20, spent three months volunteering in Uganda, working alongside young Ugandan volunteers on a range of projects. She lived with a host family in a village in Nakigo, in the Iganga district near Jinja.

The former Dixons City Academy travelled to Uganda as part of international development organisation Restless Development, part of the UK government-backed International Citizen Service (ICS) programme. She taught lessons in schools on sexual health, drug abuse, sanitation and social enterprise, and ran HIV testing and sports events in the local community.

Before Kasi travelled to Uganda she raised £1,650 for Restless Development, which will help communities in developing countries continue to benefit from the work of future volunteers. ICS provides opportunities for volunteers aged 18-25 on projects tackling poverty in some of the poorest communities in the world.

Kasi, from Heaton, said: “It was such a great feeling knowing we had made a difference to the community. There were so many misunderstandings about sexual health in the schools we taught in, my team was able to provide young people with knowledge of areas such as contraception.

“Experiences and living in a completely different culture, I learned from fellow volunteers as well my host family and members of the community.”

Now Kasi is taking on an ‘Action at Home’ project, using her new skills to benefit communities here in Bradford.

“Volunteering with Restless Development was an amazing opportunity to engage with young people who don’t have access to key learning that we take for granted in the UK,” said Kasi.

“The skills and confidence that I have developed will help me in my future studies and career as a forensic psychologist in areas of crime, mental health and rehabilitation working with young people and families.”

Kasi plans to volunteer with projects such as MIND and Forward Leeds, a drug and alcohol service, and she would also like to work with ICS again, as a team leader.

Felicity Morgan, director of ICS at VSO, said: “It’s really inspiring to hear about the fantastic work Kasi did on placement. We’re incredibly proud that UK aid is supporting young Brits to bring about positive change in some of the world’s poorest communities.

As an organisation working on the frontline against poverty, VSO see how people play an important role in delivering UK aid.”

* For more information about ICS visit volunteerics.org