CHOOSING the best volunteering organisation before embarking on an overseas humanitarian trip can be daunting and confusing.

Here Eckington woman Rose Bradbury, 25, speaks of how she chose the International Citizen Service which helped her fulfil her personal ambitions.

She is currently waitressing after coming back from Central America and saving up to pay for a masters degree in International Development. She writes of her quest to make positive changes to a community overseas.

"If you are between the ages of 18 and 35 and want to volunteer abroad or are looking to fill some time during a gap year, or even seeking out other opportunities in life, I would definitely recommend signing up to the International Citizen Service.

It is a government-funded volunteer programme for 18 to 25-year-olds, but you can apply to be a team leader if you are between 23 and 35.

ICS works with a number of charities such as Raleigh International, Restless Development and Tearfund, who place volunteers in the poorest rural communities in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

I volunteered with Raleigh for three months in Nicaragua and it was one of the best experiences of my life.

Before I found ICS I spent months looking for a volunteer programme that was right for me. However, every programme I came across was asking me to pay a substantial amount of money to help on various educational or environmental projects without really giving much indication of what impact I would be making. They seemed to be more like a holiday rather than something that could help to create a positive impact on people's lives.

ICS programmes are not a holiday; they are demanding but extremely rewarding and look great on your CV.

I worked with a group of 11 volunteers within a community that needed guidance in improving its health and sanitation systems and habits. The project focuses on sustainable development to ensure that volunteers are not coming into a community, making changes, and then leaving without giving the members of the community the knowledge to continue the positive work for its future.

The project involved teaching and training the community on health and hygiene practices, tree planting, water source installation, technology and computer training to aid the progression of small businesses, teaching about the importance of recycling and reforestation and how to fundraise.

I become part of a family and culture I wouldn't have had the chance to do otherwise. My experience has taught me many things, including a change in habits.

Another great thing about this programme is that you don't have to spend a penny. All flights, vaccinations and living costs are covered. All that you need to do is fundraise £800 and volunteer three months of your time."

More information can be found on the ICS website link: http://www.volunteerics.org/