WINCHESTER teenager Daniel Ellis is racing against time to raise money for a trip to India in August.

Daniel, 19, has been selected for the International Citizen Service, a rare opportunity help fight global poverty by volunteering for three months in a developing country.

A former student at Kings’ and Peter Symonds College, Daniel must raise £1,500 before he leaves.

Daniel, of Chilbolton Avenue, said: “I didn’t find out about the placement until mid-May, I have been working hard with a job in London but hope the local community can help me reach the target.

“I will be working with young people under 25 to raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health, as well as helping young people find productive employment. I’m really just helping them help themselves,” he said.

Restless Development, a charity based in Islington, London, which works with the International Citizen Service, has been helping young people around the world for over 25 years.

Daniel said: “My time working in London taught me a lot of communication skills, these should be transferrable to the audiences I will be engaging with in India."

To raise the funds he is planning to sell raffle tickets at £1 each with a £250 cash first prize and further prizes of £150 and £50.

The raffle is being sponsored by local firms Buckley’s Chartered Accountants of Romsey and Winchester based Box-It Data Management Ltd.