“If you love working with children and you’ve got a skill then this is an amazing place to give your time to.”

Sian Allen, 30, joined us at Dayspring in September for three months after being a primary school teacher for three years.

Sian said: “The overall experience has been amazing. 

“I came because I wanted to give a term of my time to a charity project. 

“The school was in the early phases of development and I thought it would be a good time to come and give my time to help others. I think that if you’re skilled in a certain area it’s a really good thing not just to give financially but to give your time. 

“I wanted to take part in something that would be sustainable and that would have a long-term impact on the children.”

During her time at Dayspring, Sian lived on site in the church apartment opposite the school – in the same plot of land which houses the church and the boys’ orphanage. Many of the orphans from the boys’ house attend Dayspring itself thanks to support from generous UK-based sponsors.

She said: “Because I’ve been living on site you get to know people in a more authentic way. I didn’t think I would be really part of the community but it was really hard to leave!

“Because I lived so close and spent a lot more time around the school I got to know the children a lot better than I would have in the UK

“I’ve got to know the boys from the centre really well – playing football with them, working with them and helping them with their homework.

“You’ve got to be prepared to muck in and try different things, but if you love working with children and you’ve got a skill to offer then this is an amazing place to give your time to.

“There are living challenges – you won’t have power all the time and there is no drinkable running water. Things that you take for granted in the UK aren’t always readily available here. You have to come with the mindset that it is going to be a very different experience to being at home. 

“But if you’re a teacher and you’ve got recent primary school experience and you would like to have experience abroad then this is an amazing place to come.”