Student’s plan to help Sri Lankan hospital

From the Wiltshire Times, first published Friday 27th Jan 2006.

WHILE most teenagers will be spending their summer break relaxing, budding doctor Elizabeth Emsley will be carrying out volunteer work at a hospital in Sri Lanka.

The 16-year-old, of Whitehill, Bradford on Avon, and a pupil at St Laurence School, is looking for sponsorship to raise the £3,000 she needs to take part in the project in August.

Elizabeth said: "It would be an amazing experience and would make me more aware of what being a doctor entails.

"I'll be spending a month in a hospital near the capital of Colombo and will see illnesses and diseases which are nothing like over here.

"After the tsunami I thought Sri Lanka might be a good place to go and see how different medical treatment is.

"After the disaster things went downhill but hopefully it's getting better now.

"A lot of the work I'll do will be observational but some of it will also be quite hands on."

Elizabeth was inspired to take part in the project after a friend completed a similar placement in Ghana, Africa.

The trips are organised by Teaching and Projects Abroad, which provide placements in developing countries for people planning careers in professions like medicine, teaching and journalism.

Elizabeth has always wanted to be a doctor and before Christmas took part in a three day Medlink course for young people planning on going into medicine.

She said: "It confirmed that I definitely want to do medicine. It seems to be a job that is very fulfilling and you can get a lot out of it."

She is hoping to fund the trip to Sri Lanka without any help from her parents and believes the experience will give her a vital insight into the world of medicine.

"I've been doing some voluntary work in Trowbridge Hospital. I'm only doing the tea round but it's a chance to get a closer look at this worthwhile work," she said.

"This trip will give me a chance to see medical conditions that are more extreme than in this country.

"If I do go into medicine I wouldn't necessarily want to work in Britain but would like to help in other countries."

Elizabeth is studying A-levels in chemistry, biology, art and history but hopes to study medicine at university.

She has started fundraising events like organising school discos and if she can raise £3,000 will be going to Sri Lanka on August 1.

To sponsor her contact lizziemsley@hotmail.com

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