Northampton teenager leads llamas ahead of epic Peru volunteering trip

Not many 14-year-olds choose to spend their summer helping those in need, but that's exactly what Devan plans to do next year when he travels to Peru with a Camps International expedition.

During his stay in the South American country, Devan will reside in underprivileged villages with limited access to education and essential services. His tasks will include teaching at a local school, participating in construction and repairs on school property, and engaging in nature and conservation work. The journey will culminate with a rewarding hike to Machu Picchu.

To prepare for this significant trip, Devan has completed the bronze Duke of Edinburgh award, which involved two 20+ mile hikes. He hopes this experience will help him tackle the challenging trails in Peru. Additionally, he has been volunteering at local Park Run events.

Devan is particularly thrilled about the opportunity to encounter wildlife, especially llamas. To prepare, he reached out to Catanger Llamas in Weedon Lois, near Towcester, to volunteer and learn about caring for these animals. Sarah Brown from Catanger Llamas offered Devan a chance to lead a herd on a 10km trek, where he learned about handling, leading, feeding, and grooming the llamas, including Indigo, who proved to be a lively companion.

Sarah commented, "It was a pleasure to welcome Devan to Catanger and support his upcoming Peru trip. I hope this experience serves as great practice for his Andes hike!"

Catanger Llamas, which has a herd of 45, provides various trekking experiences and stays on their farm. Devan thoroughly enjoyed his time with the llamas, remarking, "Llamas are fascinating creatures, and I loved learning about their heritage and Incan history. They can be quite mischievous, like Indigo, who kept trying to eat bushes full of berries. He was faster than I expected and occasionally left the other trekkers behind!"

With less than a year to raise the £4,000 needed for his trip, Devan has made a promising start by selling his family's clothes on Vinted and his Pokémon card collection on eBay. His family is also helping by making crafts and cakes for local events. Devan is even considering shaving his head if necessary to meet his goal.

He is also seeking support from local businesses through cash donations or raffle prizes and plans to take a large flag to Machu Picchu featuring the logos and names of the businesses that helped him achieve his goal.