A Marsden graduate is planning a return to Africa on a mission to protect Kenyans from a deadly virus.

Penny Cooper-Jones will teaching HIV awareness in Machakos, a town of 150,000 people, 40 miles southeast of the capital Nairobi.

She’ll be carrying out outreach work encouraging Kenyans to use condoms and get tested as well as directing locals to clinics supplying HIV slowing drugs.

Penny will be taking part in the Voluntary Services Overseas Secure Livelihoods programme.

In 2010, Penny taught English in Swaziland before graduating with a first in international hospitality management from Manchester Metropolitan University.

Penny, 23, said: “When I was in Swaziland lots of people were too scared to get tested but with modern medical advancement that’s not the case anymore.

“The last project was a lot of work with very young children and this is with adolescents and young adults but I will utilise what I learned last time. It will be useful though it seems more challenging this time.”

But she added: “I’m not anxious about going, it’s coming back.

“The reverse culture shock of coming home is the most difficult thing for me.”

Last time Penny had to raise £4,800 for the 2010 trip and while this year’s mission has a less ambitious target of £800, she’s offering to do odd jobs to earn it.

Penny, who currently works at the Riverhead pub, Marsden, said: “I’ll do cleaning, glass bottle collections, dog walking – whatever odd jobs people have.”

And while Penny enjoyed some leisure travelling following her work in Swaziland, they’ll be no time for that when she’s in Kenya from September until December.

She said: “This time there’s no tourism – it’s all work.”

You can sponsor or contact Penny at: www.justgiving.com/Penny-Cooper-Jones .