Paddington woman's charity dreams

She will be working for Canon Collins Trust, an organisation which provides scholarships and bursaries for underprivileged students in South Africa.

The students have the opportunity to pursue postgraduate study - either in South Africa or abroad - with the aim that they will return home to share vital skills with the community such as healthcare, education and agriculture.

Miss Lowton said: "My parents are from Johannesburg in South Africa, and so I have a strong connection with the charity.

"When the charity was set up in the 1980s, it was to work against apartheid.

"Now, it works to help further educational needs in the country, which is something I really believe in.

"As Nelson Mandela said, education is the most powerful weapon to change the world."

Miss Lowton first started volunteering with Canon Collins Trust, based in Islington, on a part-time basis after graduating from university last year.

Her two-month placement with the charity, which started last week, will include working as a fundraising assistant.

Based at the London office, she will write up profiles of the scholars' experiences, which will provide the foundation of the Trust's corporate fundraising stategy.

She said: "It's great to see the commitment of the scholars to help make South Africa a first world country.

"After my two-month placement, I'd like to stay working with the charity on a voluntary basis as it's a cause that's really close to my heart."

The scheme, Vodafone Foundation's 2009 World of Difference UK Programme, pays each charity £2,500 of which the winner gets the balance once tax and national insurance has been paid.

In addition, Vodafone UK will donate a new mobile phone with credit to winners can capture their experiences and share them on www.vodafone.co.uk/worldofdifference to inspire others.