A TEENAGER is preparing to travel to an African orphanage to work with babies and children suffering from Aids.

Jennifer Brown, 17, from Aycliffe Village, will travel to Uganda in July to work in an orphanage for a month.

Her work will be mainly with babies and children under three, but she will also help with school assemblies and drama clubs.

Jennifer, who is a student at Darlington's Queen Elizabeth College, said: "I want to help others, do something different and take in the culture of such a very different country."

Jennifer is a member of the Christian Life Centre in Woodham and is going to Uganda through Crusaders, a Christian organisation for young people.

She has to raise £1,500 for the trip and is planning a number of events to raise the money. These include a sponsored fast, a Monopoly marathon and a concert by student bands.