A PEMBROKE Dock woman is leaving home for warmer climes – and a good cause - on Sunday (January 12).

Sophie Merrix, 26, is going to Durban, South Africa, for the next six months as a volunteer for the Christian relief and development agency Tearfund.

Leaving her job at Sports Direct, Haverfordwest, at the end of November, Sophie has been working hard to raise the £800 for her trip.

She will be involved with a lead project called Zoe Life, which works predominantly with people affected by HIV and Aids.

The team of 30 volunteers will work on four different projects, including two orphan villages.

“We’ll be working with families, taking assemblies, teaching English, and raising health and sexual awareness,” Sophie said.

“I feel a little bit nervous about being in a completely new environment with a completely new set of challenges and circumstances, but I’m more excited about everything to be honest.”

Sophie said there was a “euphoric atmosphere” among volunteers ahead of their big trip.

“It’s going to be really exciting to go out there and work with everyone,” she said. “We haven’t been given much information so far, so it’ll be really interesting to go out there and see exactly what we will be doing.”

Last year, Sophie volunteered with the same organisation at Cochabamba, Bolivia, working in a shelter for homeless girls.