Teenagers from Wales to Spend the Summer as Volunteers at PV's R.I.S.E Orphanage Steve Carpenter - Coventry Observer
go to original July 10, 2013

Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza (R.I.S.E.) Children's Shelter in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

While many teenagers are heading to the more popular tourist hotspots this summer, Coventry City Ladies midfielder Hayley Ladd will be seeing a very different side to life in a sun-kissed city.

The 19-year-old will be spending a month volunteering in an orphanage in Puerto Vallarta, which lies on the west coast of Mexico, around 120 miles away from the country’s second biggest city Guadalajara.

Hayley – who has 15 caps for the Welsh national team – has just finished her first year studying Human Biology at Loughborough University, where she was introduced to the idea of volunteering abroad.

“A friend and I were really interested about doing some volunteer work in our summers and we came across a few trips through the Lufbra (Loughborough University Student Union) Action Department,” she explained.

“We then chose this Mexican trip as we thought it would give us the opportunity to work with children of a wide age range, for instance babies to young adults, as well as doing lots of different types of work including sport and art, whilst also working with disabled children.”

Hayley will be volunteering six hours a day, six days a week, and although her jobs will vary, she will most likely be coaching football and working in the disabled centre at the refuge.

“I'm going to be helping young children who have had some really horrible experiences in the past, with the hope of making their summer even the smallest bit better and enjoyable, and I could really do with some support to help me get there."

Hayley has currently raised £300, and is aiming to reach £1,500 before she sets of across the Atlantic on July 14.

To donate, email hayleyladd@btinternet.com or visit her Justgiving page/Hayley-Ladd.

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