Youngsters are fundraising for the trip of a lifetime to Borneo to help improve the lives of a community.

Seven pupils from Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey need to raise £4,000 each before they set off on the one-month expedition next summer.

The project is run by Camps International, which organises such trips for school children and it was offered to all those in Years 10, 11 and 12.

Those taking part are Lucy Aves-White; Leah Ganderton; Kallum Morris; Elise Powell; Kieran Simmons, Phillip Williams and Chloe Delasalle.

While they are there, the pupils will be working to improve living standards for communities in Borneo, the third largest island in the world and the largest in south east Asia.

They will also be helping to protect the habitat for orangutans, participating in a forest regeneration project, visiting the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, taking an open water diving course and travelling along the Kinabatangan River.

One of those taking part, 16-year-old Leah, has already started her fundraising in earnest.

She’s been holding boot fairs every weekend and will continue to throughout the summer. She has a name-the-bunny game running at Cuddles and Bubbles, Broadway, Sheerness, and has also been organising raffles and distributing sponsorship forms.

The biggest challenge she has set herself to raise money is the 54-mile London to Brighton bike ride in September, which she is hoping people will sponsor her for towards her total.

Mum Sue Ganderton, of Bell Farm Lane, Minster, said: “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for them.

“It is scary they are going that far but it’s something they will never get the chance to do again. Leah’s trying her hardest to raise the money.

“They will be working hard while they are out there – teaching and building and planting trees – it’s all about conservation.”

To sponsor Leah, go to www.gofundme.com/808SEC