WHEN Rachel Butterfield began fundraising for a school in Uganda, little did she realise how much it would change her life.

The 22-year-old from Tiptree took on the challenge of raising £6,000 for the Christ’s Embassy Primary School in Kasaka, when she was completing her Girlguiding Queen’s Guide Award.

She smashed her target within a year and launched a new guiding badge, the Love in Action Challenge, which has since seen the total rise to £15,000.

Rachel, who lives in Ransom Road, explained: “The badge has now been adopted by 7,500 Guiding units, and I hope it will be rolled out nationally this year.

“A major element of the badge is fundraising – although money is not actually the point.

“It’s about teaching children that just a small contribution can make a big difference.”

Rachel saw the difference for herself last summer when she spent five weeks at the Ugandan school, which was set up by Colchester couple Alan and Beryl Went.

“It was a mindblowing experience, absolutely fantastic,” said Rachel, who is studying for qualifications in teaching and business management.

“I visited the school and we installed a solar panel.

“I also saw the classrooms that had already been built with the fundraising money.”

The part of the trip that had the most impact on Rachel was a camping trip to a nearby lake.

“It was the first time many of the children had left their village,” she said.

“The look on their faces was mind blowing.

“One little girl refused to come out of the lake even though she was like a prune – it was the first time she had seen so much water.

“I will never forget that.”

Kingsland Church member Rachel’s visit to Uganda was such an awe-inspiring experience that she intends to move there permanently in the future.

“It’s stolen my heart,” she said.

“Once I have finished my studies I hope to go over there and teach.

“I want people in Uganda to have an education like I’ve had.”