A CARPENTER has been on the adventure of a lifetime while sharing his skills to help transform people’s lives.

Adrian Gray, who completed his Level 3 carpentry apprenticeship at Hartlepool College of Further Education, used his skills to help build toilets and water sanitation in Tanzania.

The 21-year-old set off on his three-month adventure of a lifetime in September, returning home last month with a wealth of experience.

Along with 95 other UK volunteers, Adrian travelled to Dar es Salaam, where he took part in two projects, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Livelihoods.

He said: “It was very basic living and quite chaotic. I had to adapt to no electricity, getting water every day from a well in the garden as well as a bucket shower outside without a door or roof and the toilet was scoop and flush with water from the well.”

His team consisted of eight UK volunteers as well as eight Tanzanian volunteers, who were required to teach children about the importance of sanitation and hygiene and they built toilet blocks for a local dispensary.

Before he set off, he managed to raise £800 by gardening and doing household tasks for friends, selling his own carpentry/wood-turning products and other sponsorship activities, to go towards improving the lives of people in Tanzania and for other young people to go on the same journey.

He said: “This was an eye opening experience and it made me appreciate the things we take for granted.”

He was able to take part in the project through International Citizen Service (ICS), which is a programme that enables 18-25 year olds to volunteer overseas.