A teenager will travel to India next month to teach deprived children, in a city where a third of the population lives on the streets or in slums. Will Nevard, 19, of Broadwater Avenue, Letchworth GC, will be teaching a range of subjects including English

A teenager will travel to India next month to teach deprived children, in a city where a third of the population lives on the streets or in slums.

Will Nevard, 19, of Broadwater Avenue, Letchworth GC, will be teaching a range of subjects including English and AIDS awareness.

The project will also include working in a residential home for AIDS sufferers. His accommodation will be in the city of Mumbai, where poverty is rife.

The former Bedford School pupil will be flying on his adventure as part of the Transform programme, run by Christian Relief and the charity Tearfund.

Will, who is off to Southampton University in October to study medicine, feels that facing poverty could be one of the toughest aspects of the trip.

"Initially, I think culture shock and the climate will be challenges for me, as well as knowing how to react when I am faced with such extreme poverty," said Will.

He has already undertaken an intensive five-day orientation course to prepare him for the challenge. It covered everything from how to avoid picking up a bug while overseas to what to do with a mosquito net.

"I knew I wanted to take a gap year for a while and the Transform team is something that excited me. I am really looking forward to becoming immersed in the culture, while meeting new people and serving there," added Will.

He is currently fundraising for the trip, and even went to the length of shaving his head at a local church.

If you would like to sponsor Will, contact him at williamnevard@yahoo.co.uk