KIND-HEARTED teenager Vitoria Schoeps is working hard to raise enough money to travel to Romania to teach disadvantaged children.

The 17-year-old has worked with local businesses and musicians to put together an Acoustic and Mocktail night at the JD Church on Marlborough Road tomorrow night.

Vitoria hopes that the fundraiser will help cover the costs of travelling and living in a village near Bucharest, where she will work as a pre-school teacher in a rehabilitation centre for women and children who have been taken out of poverty and abusive homes.

The centre is run by non-profit organisation Mana Deschisa, which will pay for her accommodation and training once she arrives there in August.

Vitoria said: “My parents are very kind people who are always willing to help others and they raised me in this way.

“I believe that everyone should have a fair chance. I want to do something that’s bigger than myself, and I want to express to people that they are loved and welcome.

“I’d spent a week in Romania before working with People against Poverty.

“That’s where I first heard about Mana Deschisa, I met people they’d helped and became very passionate about the work they do.

“There was an opportunity to work with the non-profit group for a year and I didn’t want my parents to pay for all of it so I booked out the church and organised this event. It was quite stressful but I’m happy it’s all coming together now.

“I’m already half way to my £1,400 goal and some people have been generous enough to sponsor me for £20 a week to pay for food.

Vitoria will take time out of her studies at Cirencester College to go on the placement, and she hopes it will help her decide what she wants to do in the future.

She added: “I’d like to go into teaching, charity work, or maybe politics, it’s good to be part of discussions and help other countries.

“I’ve been learning Romanian, I’m better at understanding it than speaking it at the moment but I’ll pick it up quite quickly when I’m there.

“My family are a bit nervous for me but they’re also really happy and supportive.

“It will be the first time I’ve lived on my own but everyone from the charity lives in the same area so

“I’m excited about this placement, I’m so grateful for this opportunity. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while so it’s amazing it’s so close now.”

Entry to the fundraiser, which runs from 7pm and features a raffle, costs £3.

For more information about the Mana Deschisa, visit manadeschisa.ro/en