Bromsgrove teenager 'incredibly lucky' after returning home from Nepalese village before earthquake

The earthquake hit near Nepal's capital Kathmandu on Saturday, April 25, destroying many of the city's historic buildings and temples, and triggering an avalanche on Mount Everest.

Charlotte Clayton arrived back in England just three weeks before the 7.8 magnitude earthquake.

The 19-year-old said: "An aftershock measuring 6.7 hit the region of Dolakha I was volunteering in.

"It took over 24 hours for me to hear from someone in person that they were safe, and I only heard that the family I stayed with during my stay in Nepal were safe four days after the quake struck.

"I now know that I am lucky to have heard that all the volunteers and staff I worked with, and my host family, are safe, but I have no idea about the state of the village I worked in."

The former North Bromsgrove High School pupil volunteered with the Restless Development youth led development agency, that works with young people globally to help people in the developing world fulfil their potential.

Before the trip she raised more than £1,400 after a donation from the Caring People recruitment agency in Redditch.

During the three month placement, Charlotte taught in a school and worked with community groups to enhance employment skills and opportunities through interactive sessions, based around subjects such as CV writing, interview skills, vocational training, decision making and problem solving.

Throughout her time in Nepal she wrote a blog, charlottewanders.wordpress.com.

Charlotte and three other volunteers have set up a fundraising campaign to raise money to support the area of Dolakha, where they volunteered.

Money for their Help Us Help Nepal campaign will be used to support the communities who need it the most, and to help them after the emergency relief organisations pull out.

For more details and to make a donation visit the Facebook page set up by the volunteers, RestlessToHelpNepal.