A WALLINGFORD teenager recently returned from an 'incredible' trip to Africa to help vulnerable children.

Rosie Brooke, an 18-year-old who works for Spirit Hair Co in Wallingford, spent 10 days visiting some of the most vulnerable towns and villages in Kenya.

Alongside other volunteers, she cooked for the local children and helped out in schools.

The group were part of a scheme run by the Nasio Trust, the Abingdon-based charity which helps orphaned children in vulnerable communities.

She said: "It was an incredible experience.

"The children were so friendly – every time we arrived at a school, they ran out laughing and smiling, wanting to get to know us.

"It was so hard to leave them, but I know I will be going back, which made it easier."

The charity says its community-based approach aims to 'provide a holistic solution to ending the cycle of poverty'.

Describing its work it says: “Our charity has a three-pronged approach to tackling poverty, focusing on: education and child care, healthcare provision [and] sustainable income.”

Rosie raised the £1,500 needed to take part in the scheme with the help of her colleagues at Spirit Hair where she works as part of the front of house team.

She added: "My colleagues were amazing, the owners and other team members helped raise most of the money I needed to make the trip.

"One week the team donated all their tips to my fund.

"My boss Mikaela Martin also held a raffle, which raised another big chunk of the money I needed to go."

Rosie, who joined the company on an apprenticeship in July 2016, continued: “Our clients were also incredibly supportive.

"I made cakes over a five-month period and they paid what they could afford and all that money also went into the fund.

"I couldn’t have made this happen without the support of my Spirit Hair Co family."

The team at the Wallingford High Street salon also donated stationery for Rosie to take with her to Kenya, as schools in the communities helped by the charity are in desperate needs of basic equipment.

The Nasio Trust was founded by Abingdon's Nancy Hunt and has helped hundreds of orphans in Kenya and neighbouring countries.