A JOURNEY of more than 5,000 miles across the Atlantic awaits an 18-year-old volunteer who is determined to bring clean water to poverty-striken communities in Central Amercia.

Maisie Bartlett, of Central Drive, Walney, is visiting Nicaragua for three months next year with the charity Raleigh International.

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Miss Bartlett will be building taps to bring clean water to some of the tropical country's most remote villages and giving advice on hygiene and sanitation to residents, many of whom are indigenous people.

Life-changing experience

It's going to be an incredible experience for the part-time supermarket worker, and one which she says she is hugely looking forward to.


Maisie Bartlett is going to Nicaragua for three months volunteering in March 2017. LEANNE BOLGER Miss Bartlett said: "I think it will be a culture shock but I think I'm quite looking forward to that.

"We are basically going to be educating them on hygiene and ways to prevent illness, and I will be helping them build taps and ways to get clean water."

To support the charity, Miss Bartlett needs to raise £800 and is already well on her way to reaching that total thanks to a JustGiving page.

The opportunity to travel to Central America came about thanks to the International Citizen Service which gives youngsters the chance to travel the work and carry out vital community projects in Central Amercia, Africa and Asia.

Volunteering mission

Miss Bartlett said: "It's a government scheme and it's for 18 to 25-year-olds and basically they pair you up with a charity and you go out volunteering for up to three months.

"I can't wait to go."

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It isn't the first time Miss Bartlett is travelling the globe to help communities as she visited Ghana with Barrow Sixth Form, an experience which motivated her to see more of the world and help poor places.

Recalling the trip, she said: "It was fantastic and I really enjoyed it."

In Nicaragua, 46.2 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, with the rate significantly higher outside the capital, Managua.

Nicaragua is also the second poorest country in Latin America after Haiti.

To support Miss Bartlett's fundraising, click here .

How Walney compares to Nicaragua


View of Nicaragua. Average maximum temperature:

- 31°C (Managua)

- 12.7°C (Walney)

Average minimum temperature:

- 23°C (Managua)

- 7.4°C (Walney)
View of Walney.

Annual rainfall:

- 1,147mm (Managua)

- 1,001.2mm (Walney)

Days of rainfall:

- 120 (Nicaragua)

- 152.9 (Walney)