A KNOX Academy pupil has passed the halfway mark in his fundraising efforts as he gets ready to spend a year in Namibia.

Donald Turvill will swap Haddington for the southern African country later this summer as he prepares to teach Namibian youngsters.

The pupil will become the teacher, potentially helping youngsters in the country learn about English, maths or ICT.

The 17-year-old is gearing up for another fundraiser, with a spring dance beingheld on the last day of the school term on Wednesday.

He said: “I’m looking forward to it.

“It’s going to be a good night and I’ve been selling tickets in the school.

“I’ve been doing a bit of advertising round the school and I’m hoping to get a good few people along on the night.” The Spring Dance, from 7pm to 10pm, is open to all Knox Academy pupils and features music from a DJ, as well as local band Beckett.

Donald, who lives on the outskirts of town near Gladsmuir, is now counting down the days to the trip, which is through the Project Trust.

He said: “It’s definitely approaching now.

“I was up in Edinburgh for a meeting with the Project Trust and it is really exciting.

“I will find out at the start of May exactly where I am going and what I am doing.

“There is myself and another boy my age, I don’t know who that is yet, that are going.

“It’s all happening really fast and it is really exciting.” The year-long project costs £5,900, with S6 pupil Donald edging past the £3,000 mark.

Donald said: “I’ve been quite lucky with charitable trusts, just under £2,000 has come from there.

“Initially, I sent away about 200 letters to charitable trusts all over the UK; I fired them off everywhere and I got a great response back.

“I’ve also been doing bake sales at school and I was quite lucky with family and friends making donations over Christmas as well.” The teenager, who is planning to go to university and study journalism when he returns from Namibia, has also been receiving vaccinations for typhoid and other conditions ahead of the trip.

But he stressed that he was keeping his mind focused on upcoming exams and the final few months of school rather than thinking about the following 12 months.

He said: “I’ve still got quite a big incentive.

“I’ve still got plans to go to university.

“I’ve had a couple of offers, which is good.

“They are conditional offers and I want to make sure I come back comfortably knowing I have got something to go to with university.” To make a donation go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/donaldsyearout