FOURTEEN-year-old Teleri Wyn Davies from Bala has reached Malawi in south east Africa to take part in a special volunteering project that will be filmed for a new TV series.
Teleri is one of eight youngsters taking part in the volunteering work in both Malawi and Cambodia, which will be shown on Newid Byd which starts on November 24 on S4C.
The group left on September 2 and will return on September 18.
Teleri and her fellow volunteers will be making their own bricks out of mud and clay to help build a new girls’ secondary school in the village of Engcongolweni, in the north of the country.
Teleri will also be working at the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, Malawi’s only wildlife sanctuary.
There, she will help take care of the animals and work alongside vets to check new arrivals and track those animals released back into the wild.
“I can’t believe I’ve been chosen to go with Newid Byd to Malawi!” said Teleri.
“Receiving the letter got the same reaction as winning the lottery... an experience that you would be lucky to have once in a lifetime!
“I will benefit greatly from this unforgettable experience and it will remain with me for the rest of my life.
“It will definitely have a positive effect on my future.
“I’m also looking forward to the hard work and bonding with the rest of the crew, my new friends!”
Viewers can follow the Newid Byd volunteers’ progress on the S4C website s4c.co.uk/newidbyd, which features maps, blogs and background information.
Newid Byd producer Mererid Wigley says she was blown away by the volume and standard of applications received.
She said: “Reading the applications was a very positive experience.
“Young people are often judged for not showing concern or interest in the world around them.
“But these applications were the complete opposite.
“It’s great to see so many young people who are hard working in their community, and feel strongly about environmental and social issues and work hard to raise money for charities involved in these areas.