ARGUS photographer Catherine Booker is off to Uganda with a team of four people aiming to build a school in the village of Ogenda.

The trip is funded by the Nick Lewis travel bursary, named in memory of former Argus journalist Nick Lewis, who died of cancer in 1999 while chief sub-editor at Wales on Sunday.

Miss Booker applied to travel to Uganda with the charity Hands Around the World.

She wanted to go to Africa to experience a culture far removed from that in the UK, and will spend two weeks documenting the experience of the four volunteers.

They will spend a month helping to improve the education of African children, whilst having a life changing experience.

She will travel with Steve Dobson, 47, his partner Kerry Goodenough, 45, both from Blackwood, Peter Gratton, 61, from Ross on Wye, and Maureen Evans, 60, from Tintern. Miss Goodenough has always wanted to work abroad on a project like this, but has never had the opportunity.

She saw her life passing her by too quickly, so jumped at the chance to apply when she saw the advert in the paper.

Miss Booker explained: “I have never been to Africa before” says Catherine “and have mixed feelings about going there. I am excited as I know it will open my eyes about a totally different culture, and I think it will make me appreciate how lucky I am to be living so comfortably in the UK.

“On the other hand I am aware that I may come across severe poverty and I may see some heartbreaking things during my stay.”

The four volunteers will spend four weeks from mid January until February 12, 2010, in Uganda, and Miss Booker will be there to photograph the last two weeks of their stay.