A SCHOOLGIRL admits she has learnt not to take things for granted after a life-changing trip to Brazil as part of a TV show.

Kassia Wall, 12, spent a month in Brazil for CBBC documentary series Show Me What You’re Made Of.

She was one of five youngsters who were shown what life was like for children in poverty.

The Philip Morant school pupil said: “We stayed in a lot of places, including two mud huts and a floating house in the Amazon.

“I learnt not to take things for granted.

“I have quite a lot of technology – an iPod, iPad and phone, but people out there don’t have anything like that.

“I used to get pocket money and money on top of that to do things, but I don’t any more.

“People in Brazil get paid a bare minimum and I want to start working to earn money.

“It was also interesting to see how much work goes on in factories, even something like prawns you think would be pretty simple, but a lot goes on before they reach us.”

Kassia invited her pals to her house in Prior Way, Colchester to watch the first episode yesterday.

She said: “I’m excited for people to watch the show.

“When I first got back, I couldn’t tell people, but it has been very exciting around school in recent weeks.

“Friends and teachers have been really supportive and it is a nice way to explain what I did.”

Kassia was the youngest of the group and was chosen from more than 1,000 applicants.

The first programme, presented by Stacey Dooley, was aired on Monday at 4.30pm and an episode will be shown at the same time every weekday this week.

Kassia’s mum Sophie Noone, 40, said: “We hoped Kassia would come back and appreciate what she has and to her credit, it has definitely made a difference.

“She has attempted to do some things around the house before I get home from work.

“It was heart-wrenching seeing her go off with complete strangers for a month, but it was a fantastic opportunity for her.”