2001. Hi! My name is Kirsten Newlands and I come from Maybole. I have lived here all my life, 16 years, and go to school at Queen Margaret Academy in Ayr.

This year (2001) I have been lucky enough to win a place on a scheme called the Fulcrum Challenge which is a business/cultural scheme for preparing people of my age to hopefully become the leaders of the future. From the hundreds of applicants only 20 are chosen and I feel very fortunate to have been one of these.

Part of the scheme involves a sort of expedition to another country in which we will work and live with villagers attempting to help them improve their way of life. We leave on the 26th of June.

However, before this I must raise £1500 to cover the cost of this and the other activities, including an environmental weekend in this country; if I do not my place on the scheme may be in jeopardy. Thank you for reading this.