Jagruti Godhaniya, of Ingleby Road, Ilford, will offer her services as an optometrist in hospitals across Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital.

She will travel to the sub-continent on May 23.

She said: “I have never been to Sri Lanka before, so I am excited – it is something different.

“I will be helping out in hospitals, doing what I can.
“The locals are not as privileged as we in terms of having eye tests so there are probably more people who have more serious eye conditions.”

She also added: “It will be interesting to see the difference.”

Ms Godihaniya has visited Uganda before to complete some community work – but was involved in building schools in the African country.

The optometrist is going to Sri Lanka with the support of Project Abroad, an organisation which sets up voluntary projects overseas.

“I chose this organisation because out of all the other companies they give the most support.”

(ilfordrecorder.co.uk)