Faradh Maharoof is leaving his wintry home in London’s East End for three sunny months helping improve life in rural Kenya.

He is working with the International Citizen Service programme for youth volunteers to help communities in poverty in East Africa.

The 23-year-old from Fairfoot Road in Bromley-by-Bow will be living with a family and working to tackle health and education problems, as well as the broader issue of climate change.

“I’ve always wanted to make a difference to people’s lives,” he said.

“I grew up in east London, but want to discover various avenues other than what’s on my doorstep.

“Curiosity and a sense of adventure has opened up opportunities—you just need to look for it.”

Faradh, who leaves for Kenya next month, won a volunteering grant from east London’s Jack Petchey Foundation. He is currently completing a three-month internship at the Democratic Progress Institute, which works on conflict resolution and democratic advancement in the Third World.