A GIRL guide from the Island was selected to go on an adventure to Mexico.

Grace Vincent, of Sandown, raised £3,000 for the trip to tropical Cuernavaca, south of Mexico City, where she learnt about Latin culture and got involved in conservation efforts.

Landing in Mexico City on July 26, Grace travelled south to the Girl Guide centre Our Cabaña, run by the World Association of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouts.

Grace said: "It was an amazing experience and I learnt many things about Mexican culture and about our planet and the importance of saving it.

"It offered life-changing opportunities and skills.

"In the first couple of days we travelled round Mexico City and then to Our Cabaña.

"Here we met girl guides from all over the world, exchanged badges and took part in a campfire where we sang old Girlguiding songs and learnt new ones.

"The main part of the first half of the trip was based around working within the local community.

"As a group we worked in a community centre in an area of deprivation.

"Here we worked with younger children and their families through games, craft, gardening and martial arts.

"We also assisted volunteer doctors and teachers."

The main aim of the Our Cabaña centre is to prevent young people and their families from living on the streets in danger, as well as preventing older teenagers from becoming involved in crime.

Grace said: "This taught us to really appreciate all we have and how privileged we all are, as well as teaching me that happiness has no language barrier and that children are children no matter where you are, and are not born with any prejudice.

"We also looked after turtles by feeding and cleaning them and their tanks.

"We went out on night patrols, collecting nests of turtle eggs and placing them in an incubation site.

"This was an experience that will stay with me forever and I am extremely grateful to have been given.

"If the opportunity ever arises for people to take part in an international trip I would strongly advise they take it."