A Bethlehem College student's passion for serving others has inspired a fundraising mission to Ecuador next year.

Natasha Cox, 17, says she has a passion for bringing happiness to people's lives and exploring the world.

Natasha Cox with children from Tonga.

And now she has the opportunity to help others by travelling to Ecuador to work with children as a volunteer for five months.

She'll be aided by Lattitude Global Volunteering – an organisation that offers gap year opportunities for young people and a range of placement types in different countries.

Natasha says: 'I will be volunteering in schools/caring placements, working with children in care, children with physical disabilities, children with learning difficulties and street children.

'I will help with teaching, caring, gym, dance and general art, gather street children through the outreach programme, help with English and much more.”

Natasha adds she will be 'helping to put a smile on each child's face”.

'I want to take them the message of self-worth, and explore the intricacies of other cultures and peoples,” she says.

The opportunity gives Natasha the chance to spend her gap year volunteering in Ecuador while combining her passion of helping others.

She says: 'Often I find that school work, mundane chores etc, fill my life, and my passions are pushed to the bottom. I wanted a year where I could focus - without any distractions - on what makes me the most happy.

'I heard about Lattitude through my school, and after I attended their information evening I was hooked. I knew it was what I was meant to do.”

The $9,000 fee presented a problem for Natasha who promptly got herself a job.

'I have been saving ever since, as well as a mission's trip to Tonga I went on earlier on in the year, which I also had to save for,” adds Natasha.

'I have done fundraising ventures, such as Movie fundraisers at Rialto, beauty lessons at Sister's in Mount Maunganui, and I have also run a youth conference through my school, for the youth of Tauranga.

Natasha doesn't want to let the $9,000 fee stand in her way from doing what she loves.

She adds: 'This kind of work has been in my heart for a couple of years now and I have been working hard to reach this dream; both working and fundraising myself.”

She says any contribution from the community would be an 'incredible blessing”.

If you'd like to help Natasha get to Ecuador, you can donate here: www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/natashaspassion