A GROUP of youngsters from the Tavistock area are setting off on the experience of a lifetime next week, when they leave to spend two weeks in Brazil.
The group, which is being led by Whitchurch curate the Rev Andrew Williams, will spend a fortnight with the Happy Child Mission in Belo Horizonte, which works to improve the life of the city's street children.
Andrew said: 'Basically what the mission does is get to know the kids on the street. They have a night shelter and day centre, they encourage them to use them, they try to trace what remains of their families and work to get them back together, if that is possible.'
The party is made up of youngsters belonging to church youth groups in Whitchurch and Tavistock. They will be staying at the Mission's farm, 20 miles outside the city. Here, they will help look after around 16 boys who have left the streets.
They will also take funds raised locally to redecorate the room used by the boys for worship and for games.
The group will also be working in the slums of Belo Horizonte.
Andrew said: 'My brother works with the Happy Child Mission — he speaks Portuguese and has a lot of contacts, which makes it possible for us to go and see places which otherwise would be impossible.'
Andrew said the group, which has been preparing for the trip since January, have seen pictures of the children and the type of conditions they live in, but felt it would still be a shock to experience their lifestyle.
'I went out there two years ago and knew quite a lot, but you can never be really prepared — it was a very changing experience, I think they will find it quite hard.'
The group leaves Tavistock on July 25 and returns on August 9.