THREE Pewsey villagers are preparing to travel to Asia to take part in volunteering programmes.

Melani Oliver, 53, her partner Chris Stevens, 66, and daughter Harriet Oliver, 22, will be setting off in September to work for charity volunteering schemes with VSO. Mr Stevens and his partner Miss Oliver will be jetting off to Myanmar where Chris will be helping children with disabilities, while Melani will be working with Civil Society leaders to encourage communities to become more active in the democratic process.

Melani Oliver said: “It has always been something I have wanted to do. As a family we have always travelled extensively so it seemed like the perfect time to do it. We have both got jobs with VSO and will be travelling to Myanmar in September for two years. My daughter Harriet will be going to Cambodia for three months to work on an agricultural project.”

As well as the trip, the family have worked for the past 18 years volunteering at Glastonbury festival, something they will do next year during their annual leave from Myanmar.

“We work at Glasto every year, when we we run the cinema tent. Volunteer supervisors at Glastonbury are given a free ticket in exchange for the work but then also given £125 each to donate to their chosen charity. Next year and 2018’s festival we will be donating it to VSO,” added Miss Oliver.

With just a couple of days until Mr Stevens flies out, and a few weeks until Miss Oliver joins him, the family are feeling the excitement of their new venture.

“I am really excited about it, it has been on my bucket list for a while so we shall just have to wait and see how we do. It is going to be very culturally different and I am sure it will be a really good experience,” said Miss Oliver.

Harriet, who will be setting off in October, will be staying with a host family in Cambodia and taking part in agricultural programmes as well as community action days.

Harriet, of Stanley Road, Brighton, said: "I will be helping people in the agricultural sector, helping to give them things that will last. You could give a farmer a tractor but what happens when it runs out of petrol, what if they cannot afford to fix it, it isn't sustainable. I will be taking part in community action days where you can focus on anything from sexual health to women's rights. There will be 11 English people living with their counterparts for the three months. I am not nervous about travelling as I have before, I am more worried about getting on with my counterpart but I am sure it will be fine."

To donate to Harriet’s Just Giving page visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Harriet-Oliver3/ and to donate to Mr Steven’s page visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/christopher-stevens7.