Teen's African trip talk to Rotary club
A Sutherland teenager has given local Rotarians an insight into the hardships suffered by impoverished Africa communities.
Dornoch Academy pupil Poppy Watson, of Brora, was the guest speaker at a meeting of East Sutherland Rotary Club.
The 14-year-old was among a group of Scouts from the Highlands and Islands who spent three weeks in Kenya last summer working on a variety of projects in slum areas with the Amuka Foundation and Kenya Scout Association.
Poppy described how in one school she visited, more than 60 pupils were crammed into a tiny classroom. Teachers were so short of resources that they had to break pencils into four pieces to give each pupils something with which to write.
Poppy joined the Scouting movement at the age of six and has attended a World Jamboree in Canada. She is also involved with Rotakids and is a volunteer coach and player with Brora Rangers Ladies and the club's youth teams. She also volunteers at Brora Hub and with the local food bank.
Her sterling performance during the African trip led the Amuka Foundation to make her one of its Trustees.
Rotary club spokesman Alistair Risk said members had been impressed with all Poppy had achieved at such a young age.
