The Rev Kate Mier of St Peter's church will be setting off to Grahamstown in South Africa in May to help out at a primary school.

She will stay for two months as a volunteer.

She said: "I'm very much looking forward to going - I've always been very drawn to Africa."

The school, Amasango - which means 'open doorways' - was founded by Jane Bradshaw for street children in the Eastern Cape.

Among the pupils are many homeless children who are exposed to drugs, violence and prostitution.

Mrs Mier, 47, is familiar with the classroom setting due to her work as chaplain of Wellesbourne Primary School, but she is expecting to be met with a very different experience in Grahamstown.

She said: "I have no idea what I will be doing. I think it's a case of just having time for the children outside of the classes and forming friendships.

"I believe playing snakes and ladders is something that is really helpful to them as it teaches them how to lose and about the give-and-take aspect of life. I also imagine I will be doing activities like baking cakes and playing football with the children."

Although Amasango is a primary school, many older children who have never had access to education come along to classes.

Mrs Mier said: "It will be a very mixed age range. One of my concerns is that some of the children might be violent - when there is conflict, some people see the only way out as violence."

The school - attended by about 120 pupils - is an old train station waiting room where desks and chairs have been set up. It was founded to respond to the need for education in the village - where the unemployment rate is 70 per cent. Mrs Mier is hoping to set up links between the school and churches and villages in England.

She is looking forward to both the chance to help out in the community and to the personal adventure the experience will bring.

She added: "I am going to have a complete break from the responsibilities of parish life and church services, to have a different experience, be refreshed and made aware of different outlooks for when I come back."

Mrs Mier will be speaking about her trip at St Peter's church in Church Street, Wellesbourne on April 20 at 10.15am.