An Ealing teenager who recently spent 7 weeks volunteering in Kenya is using the skills she developed overseas to help out in the UK.

Bahrathi Keeping, 19, travelled to Siaya county in Kenya with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) as part of the International Citizen Service (ICS) programme along with eight volunteers from the UK and 12 from Kenya.

Their programme was cut short five weeks due to COVID-19 but Ms Keeping is planning to use her experience volunteering overseas to make a difference at home.

Ms Keeping said: “Volunteering in Kenya was incredible and something that I will never forget.

“Seeing the difficulty that some of the women I met faced day-to-day was a real eye-opener to the privilege we have living in the UK and the need to do something to help the less fortunate.”

This Is Local London: Bahrathi Keeping leading a safe space on sexual assault with the primary actors of the Nyabera groupBahrathi Keeping leading a safe space on sexual assault with the primary actors of the Nyabera group

Since returning to the UK Ms Keeping has decided to do fundraising for causes she is really passionate about – Trussell Trust and Age UK.

She said: “I’m planning to run a 5k and fundraise for them through that and also get involved with campaigning for them online to raise awareness and donations.

“I applied to be an Age UK volunteer but I’m yet to hear back about that, I’m hoping it will be helping elderly people through coronavirus.”

ICS allows young people aged 18-25 to contribute to sustainable development projects in Africa and Asia. 

The volunteers are placed on working towards achieving the United Nation's Global Goals, a set of development targets that nations across the world have to achieve by 2030.

The experience Ms Keeping gained on the program has impacted on her future plans as she prepares to study economics for four years at the University of St Andrews in Scotland in September.

She said: “ICS is a truly amazing experience which taught me so much and gave me confidence and skills that I know will only serve to have a positive impact on my future.

“Firstly I’m interested in taking modules to do with international development to understand it more.

“Long term I was thinking of going into researching economic solutions and international development.

“It [a career] would be through the academic sphere so researching it and advising charities or NTOs on how they can implement their strategy.”

Ms Keeping had wanted to take part in a volunteering scheme abroad for a while but was inspired by one of her sixth form teachers who believes it’s the duty of people living in the west to help the less fortunate.

She travelled to Kenya for the VSO during a gap year upon the completion of her A-levels and has offered advice to any individuals wishing to follow in her footsteps.

She said: “I think definitely do it.

“They’re always looking for willing volunteers and I think anyone that wants to go into it for the right reasons and people who care about trying to make a difference it is such a good thing to do.

“It also helps build confidence, you gain skills from it and you should definitely go for it if you’re thinking about it.”

To find out more about ICS or to apply, visit www.volunteerics.org.