Sophie Hughes, of Church Lane, Sompting, hopes she will make a contribution to communities at home and in Indonesia as part of VSO's Global Xchange programme.

She will join a team of 18 young people on the six-month exchange, starting on March 25, organised by VSO and the British Council.

Sophie, 21, said: "I want to experience and different culture and gain work experience and life skills, and Global Xchange will give me the opportunity to do this.

"I've spoken to young people who have been on Global Xchange, and they say that it is a life-changing experience.

"The work that is done to help the communities will hopefully be life-changing for them, too.

"VSO's motto is 'Sharing skills, changing lives' – that is what I'm aiming for."

Sophie has been volunteering at Lancing and Sompting Citizens Advice Bureau and at St Barnabas House hospice since graduating with a degree in history last summer.

She took part in a tandem skydive to help raise funds for her trip, at Netheravon airfield, near Salisbury, on Saturday, January 26.

She said any nerves she had leading up to the 12,000ft jump had disappeared, and the experience was one she would never forget.

"It was my first skydive and it was an absolutely mindblowing experience," said Sophie.

"It was fairly windy up there, but not cold. I still can't believe I did it.

"There is nothing that can be compared to it.

"At first the wind was blowing my face back but when we opened the parachute it was more like floating.

"It was a great sunny day so we had good views over Salisbury plain."

Sophie raised nearly £600 through sponsorship by completing the jump, which will go towards funding her Global Xchange trip.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Sophie should visit her website www.justgiving.com/sophiehughes1000

For more information on VSO, log on to the website www.vso.org.uk