It’s no short trip from Worcester Park to Ecuador, but when one Girlguiding leader was offered the chance to swap life in one for the other she accepted without hesitation.

Louise Pullin, 22, flew out to the south American country nicknamed Manuelito’s Country, last Thursday after being handpicked for the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The local girl, who has helped lead 8th Worcester Park Brownies since the age of 14, was nominated for the trip as part of an initiative called Girlguiding LaSERIO which offers international adventures to around 50 young women each year.

Since shouldering her backpack and arriving in Las Tolas, a small community in Ecuador’s Cloud Forest, Miss Pullin immediately got to work helping with locally based conservation projects aimed at curbing deforestation.

Fortunately for the first-time traveller she won’t be spending the whole trip working, also on her itinerary are visits to the volcanic mountains, whale watching off the coast of Isla de la Planta and the breathtaking spectacle of a zip wire ride across the Cloud Forest canopy.

She is due to live with a host family to gain first-hand experience of life in the developing world.

Speaking ahead of her departure an understandably excited Miss Pullin said: "I’m looking forward to the exciting challenges ahead, from milking cows and helping on the plantations and getting stuck in to work in Las Tolas.

"Being part of guiding opens up an amazing network of friends, adventure and fun, with opportunities not just in the UK, but across the world."

To help fund her adventure the leader of the pack, which is based at Christ Church with St Philip, in Ruskin Drive, Worcester Park, organised several events including afternoon tea, a cake sale and a Beetle Drive.

Every year, Girlguiding sends hundreds of young women on international trips across the globe empowering them to take part in vital community development work, explore new cultures and develop their sense of adventure.

Miss Pullin is one of seven members from the same guide district to be awarded a trip, with other destinations including California, Vietnam and a visit to the World Scout Jamboree in Japan.

To find out more about Girlguiding, the UK’s leading charity for girls and young women visit www.girlguiding.org.uk