A YOUNG chef from West Wales has been completely overwhelmed by the response to his latest fund raising initiative.

21-year-old Scott Pinion, from Haverfordwest, is one of more than fifty young people from Wales and Canada, including some ten from Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, who will heading off to South Africa in March to build a school at an informal settlement near Zanspruit.

Following a well attended Curry and Quiz night at the Ocean Restaurant in Broad Haven where he has worked on a seasonal basis Scott said “I never thought we would raise that much in one evening – it looks like the evenings total, after costs will be £400. People are so generous”

Steve Blunt, Area Director of Young Life International said “For over 20 years YMP (Youth Mission Project) have been sending youth to various parts of the world to learn more about other cultures, and Young Life International Pembrokeshire, has joined in since 2012. Every year several groups heading back to South Africa to build modular orphanages, school and community buildings or housing for the poor in the informal settlements of Johannesburg and also in Cape Town”

The building process is quite straightforward according to Bill Hebner, former Regional Director of Young Life International and now head of Youth Mission Projects. “We make a large quadrangle, using shipping containers as walls” he said. “And once we have put a roof on it, there is a massive school hall and the containers become classrooms, offices, etc.”

These simple buildings can have a profound impact both on the life of the community and on those going to help according to Steve Blunt. “Official Government statistics show how the build undertaken by Pembrokeshire young people in 2012 have seen the infant mortality rate drop from 5 a week to zero” he explained, “It put a lump in my throat when I saw those figures”.

“Young Life has a relationship with Youth Mission Project ” he added. “Its great to know that once we get off the plane in Africa al we need to concentrate on is the young people – someone else has organised everything else such transport, building materials, food and accommodation”

“But,” he continued, “what really thrills me is the difference it makes to young people from here”. “For example, one girl who Is returning to South Africa this year was so moved by what she saw that paying £3.00 for a coffee reduced her to tears and has altered how she buys clothes”.

Young Life International is a “missional arm of the church” according to Blunt. “That is for all the churches in the area that care to use it. And it has a specific heart for adolescents who have no relationship with church – loving kids in their world, encouraging them to know Christ. Young Life International has a weekly club that is a celebration of friendships – and could end in being invited to a mash potato fight!”

“Some of the other fund raisers:- made, cooked and sold 2000 welsh cakes in 2 days in Fishguard festival Sold hot dogs and popcorn at Christmas fair Bowling marathon in Xcel bowl Auction Designing, Making and Selling t shirts”

“Young Life International starts with concerned adults who spend time building bridges of authentic young people where are, listening to their stories and learning what’s important to them” says Tom Hammon Director of Scandinavia and United Kingdom Young Life. “Because their leaders believe in them unconditionally young people begin to see that their lives have great worth, meaning and purpose”

“Young Life International leaders offer young people adventure, hospitality and unconditional friendship. We believe that young people’s lives are dramatically impacted when caring adults come alongside them. And for hose wanting to explore the spiritual dimensions of their lives more deeply we offer small group gatherings that allow students to more fully investigate the teaching and life of Jesus of Nazareth”