AN 18-YEAR-OLD school leaver spent six sizzling weeks in South America after being selected to take part in a Global Fellowship trip.

Gillian Brown, from Letchworth GC, had the chance to experience life in Brazil and share what she has learnt with her peers.

She said: “The first few weeks were in Rio de Janeiro and we learnt Portuguese. We went to community projects in the favelas and we went to look at afro-reggae music which was really cool.”

Miss Brown also toured the notoriously dangerous shanty towns with a local news team and talked to the police about their role in the community.

The second phase of the trip was spent in S�o Paulo where the former Knights Templar student stayed with a host family and spent time at Col�gio S�o Luis, a private school that teaches pupil’s aged from two to 18.

Miss Brown said: “Spending two weeks with a host family was a brilliant experience. The family were really welcoming and made me feel at home instantly.

“Despite the fact that the parents didn’t speak English and my Portuguese was basic to the point of non-existent, we managed to communicate and had some very interesting conversations comparing England and Brazil.”

The third and final stage was spent on a work placement where Miss Brown was placed with ethical cosmetic company Natura, which aim to provide quality cosmetics that are carbon neutral.

Miss Brown recently returned is now studying medicine at the University College London.

The Global Fellowship is an initiative run by the British Consul that aims to teach young people that they are world citizens as well as UK nationals through exciting trips abroad.

As well as giving them insight into the opportunities that a global economy can offer.

More information on the scheme is available on www.global-fellowship.org.