A WOMAN from the North-East with a passion for women’s rights has helped some of the world’s poorest people during a volunteer trip.

Jade Hall, from Hurworth, near Darlington, spent ten weeks volunteering in Burkina Faso – a poverty-stricken landlocked country in West Africa.

While there, the 23-year-old, who studied international relations at the University of Nottingham, worked with a group of British and Burkinabè volunteers in a rural village to help native women become financially independent.

The volunteers helped the women to make a range of products, including shea butter, moringa soap and bags and keyrings made from discarded carrier bags, which could then be sold on.

They also hosted a number of workshops for the women, and lived with host families.

Miss Hall, who returned from her trip early last month, said: “I didn’t know what to expect, but I am so glad I did it. It was a real challenge, but you get so much out of it.

“There is absolutely no infrastructure over there and unemployment is massive.

“You don’t realise that we have got such an easy life – everything there is so difficult. It is quite humbling.”

The former Hurworth School and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College student arranged the trip through the Government’s International Citizen Service (ICS), a global volunteering scheme for 18 to 25-year-olds.

Although she had to raise £800 towards the trip, most of the costs are met by the Government.

“It was such a good programme, and not many people know about it. I would definitely recommend it,” she said.

“I definitely came away from it realising how easy my life is and how many opportunities we have over here.

“It is so different for people there, especially the women. Women are not allowed to do certain things, and there are the traditional gender roles in place.

“Girls are treated as second class citizens. It is really sad, you don’t realise how fortunate we are being born in a country where women are treated so much better.”

Miss Hall hopes to work in international security and is looking to study towards a PhD.

For more information on ICS visit volunteerics.org