FOR Louise Jackson the experience of a lifetime beckons as she prepares to travel to Africa to teach English.

Louise, 18, from Highfield, Southampton, will travel to the Akuapem Hills in Ghana in January to teach primary school children for three months.

Currently on her gap year after finishing her A-levels at Peter Symonds College in Winchester, Louise, pictured, hopes the experience will be invaluable as she plans a career in teaching.

Louise is hoping to raise £2,790 for the trip to the country on the north west coast of Africa and is currently working at Portsmouth University to raise funds.

"I want to travel to Africa because its troubles with famine, war, Aids and corruption have been so widely reported, so I want to make a difference in my own little way," she said.

"I choose Ghana because English is the second language and those children who learn it have a distinct advantage in life, so I can really help to improve their chances.

"Moreover, everyone says it's a beautiful country and the people are great, so it seems a good country to choose from the African continent."

Louise will be staying with a host family during the three months.

She added: "Staying with the host family will allow me to learn about the real way of life over there and expose me to things I wouldn't see otherwise.

"At the moment I'm just trying to prepare myself for it. I'm a little nervous but also excited and looking forward to it."

Louise got the idea for the trip after seeing a Teaching and Projects Abroad stall at a gap year fair at college this year.

Louise will be teaching five to 11-year-olds and will also be teaching them sports, drama, music, maths, science, games, arts and geography.

She plans to go to Brighton University on her return to study a Bachelor of Education so she can teach primary schoolchildren in England.