'WE may have different ambitions, but we are ultimately all human with the same beating heart and buzzing brain.'

Those are the words of charity champion Joe Burton who has recently returned from a three-month volunteering project in a village in Uganda.

The 23-year-old, who lives in Sharples, took part in the Government's International Citizen Service (ICS) scheme, leaving luxuries behind to make a difference in the world.

He said: "I heard about the ICS scheme from a friend who had done it previously in Burkina Faso in Africa and had nothing but good things to say. I didn't get to choose where I went, but I indicated that I wanted to work in a country that was struggling with infectious diseases, as this is linked to my degree in Biomedical Science.

"One-and half-million people in Uganda are living with HIV, and malaria is rife throughout the country, so there was a lot to work on. Africa is a big place, and it's a bit of a mystery. We see a lot of images that show Africa as one country of poverty, and I wanted to have a better insight than that."

Joe, a former pupil of Thornleigh Salesian College, who now works as a freelance science communicator, organised workshops with young people to discuss a number of topics including sexual health.

He said: "I lived in a small village called Lubani. Me and my team worked with many different youth groups across Butagaya sub-county to deliver interactive sessions under three umbrella topics — sexual and reproductive health, livelihoods, and civic participation.

"Our goal was to empower the youth to become leaders of change in their communities and in Uganda. I lived with a family of Ugandans who opened up their home to me and my team.

"They showed us how to wash our clothes manually, cook using a charcoal burner and how to interact with the locals. I was anxious about living in a country that was so different from the UK with people that were equally as different. I have come to realise that no matter where you grow up, we are still the same.

"We have different ambitions, different personalities, different hairstyles, but we are ultimately all human with the same beating heart and buzzing brain. When I was walking through my village in Uganda, I felt integrated, people smiled and greeted me as an equal, and that was wonderful."

He said the highlight of the trip was experiencing living with a local family.

"In the villages, community and family merge and become one, and so it was difficult to see who was connected by blood or just friendship.

"The people closest to me showed me so much consideration and gave me time of day, while they were very busy tending to crops and looking after their own.

" I will never forget the beautiful smiley faces of the children who played and sang endlessly."

The scheme is funded by the UK government but Joe had to raise £800 to take part.

Joe added: "If you are thinking about taking part, do it. Honestly it may be the toughest thing you ever do, but it may also be the best. You will meet so many kind and thoughtful people, both in the UK and internationally, and those bonds will be there forever."

Joe is due to travel to to Ghana in mid-January to work on a science education project in a school.

Watch a video of Joe in Uganda on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai0a6tDrOWc