Fund set up in memory of teenage charity volunteer

The family of a teenage charity worker who drowned in South Africa have set up a fund in her memory.

Alice Barnett 19, who attended Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School until last year, died after going for an ocean swim with friends in Port Elizabeth on December 4.

Her friend Summer 
Robertson, 21, also died in the tragedy.

And now her mother Suzie, father Pete and brother Jordi have launched a fund, which will support the schemes close to Alice’s heart.

The fund has already raised more than £3,000 for Lattitude Global Volunteering, a youth development charity that provides overseas volunteering opportunities for 17-25 year olds.

In a statement the 
family said: “Her wonderful and generous spirit hated waste and so, in her honour, we are asking if you might donate a pound or two instead of sending cards or flowers, or even when you may have bought her a Christmas or birthday drink or present (Jan 1st).

“Funds raised will all go towards creating positive change for the gorgeous young people supported by these two amazing projects, helping to build a better future for them and their communities - something she believed in so passionately.

“She was inspired by their strength of spirit in the face of extraordinary adversity, and now more than ever we are inspired by her.

“Both projects welcomed her as one of their own and we hope to emulate their generosity by treating them as our own in return.

“We know our beautiful Alice would approve and we hope you might too.”

Di Darlow, of Jerusalem Ministries which runs the centre where Alice was volunteering at the time of her death, said: “We are shocked and horrified knowing that two of the delightful young people who made such an impact on the children of Gqebera, have died tragically.

“ It is heartbreaking.

“We hope that the families of these girls would find comfort in knowing that they spent the last 10 weeks of their life selflessly trying to make hundreds of other children have a future.

“The girls have helped with the teaching of some of the orphaned and vulnerable 
chidlren who are struggling with school work, and have also worked into the local schools to try to prevent alcohol and drug abuse, which (according to the research conducted by their team) results in children dropping out of school, teenage pregnancies, and crime.

“They have also tried to establish opportunities for 
alternate recreation so that the children have other past times as they found that children go to taverns, though underage, to have fun.

“ We were thrilled with the impact that they had made, and are saddened that those that sought to make a difference in the future of others, had their own future snatched away by the elements.”

To donate to the fund in Alice’s memory visit www.justgiving.com/beautifulalice