TWO Ribble Valley teenagers are to travel thousands of miles to work with underprivileged children in the Third World.

Former Stonyhurst College pupils, Sarah Andrews and Amy Crouch, both of Hurst Green, will spend a year living and working in Africa and India before going to university.

Sarah, 18, will be caring for street children at the Duncan House Children's Shelter in Bagamoyo, Eastern Tanzania, and Amy, also 18, will teach English at the Rosary High School in Ajra, Kolhapur State, India.

Both volunteered through the Young British Jesuit Alumni Programme. Sarah said: "I want to help children in poorer countries and find out first-hand what their lives are like, so I can perhaps help improve their future a little."

The girls, who gained three A levels each, are applying to go to university next year -- Amy to study English and Sarah to study medicine -- and both hope to continue community work on their return.