While many of her fellow students will be heading down to Dunsborough to party in the leavers’ zone, Lee will be straight to work to earn money towards her trip to Ghana, West Africa.

She plans to spend three months in Ghana volunteering at an orphanage through an organisation called World Project Abroad.

“I really wasn’t sure what to do when I finished school,” she said.

“But I knew I wanted to make a difference. There are 160,000 orphans in Ghana, largely due to AIDS. The orphanages are very understaffed.”

While she is in Ghana, Lee will stay with host families.

The orphanage caters for children from newborn to 14 and Lee will do whatever is asked of her to help out.

“It may be teaching, it may be caring and cleaning,” she said. Caring for children will be a whole new experience for Lee but she feels up to the challenge.

“I am nervous – but I’m excited too,” she said. “Mum and Dad are freaking-out, they would like me to go for less time, they’re nervous too.”

Over the summer Lee will be working hard to raise the $6700 needed to fund airfares, meals, accommodation and to make a donation to the orphanage.

The Lions Club of Busselton donated $500 to help kick-start her fundraising effort. Lee is asking businesses and individuals to support her in her endeavour.

On her behalf the Lions have set up a fund in the name of Ghana Orphanage Appeal.

Anyone interested in helping with a donation of cash, or a prize donation that can be raffled can direct it to the Ghana Orphanage Appeal by contacting Terry Best from the Busselton Lions Club on 0409 684 763.