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RANKIN INLET - The volunteer bug has bitten a student from Rankin Inlet.

Kelli McLarty is attending post-secondary school at Mount Royal University in Calgary.

The 17-year Rankin resident is studying to become a teacher and hopes to return to Nunavut when she graduates.

But, in the meantime, there are other people in the world McLarty hopes to help.

She is fundraising to be one of 10 volunteers to travel to Nepal this coming May as part of a Global Youth Network team.

The final hurdle to being part of the team is raising $4,750 towards the cost.

Putting in volunteer time to help others is nothing new to McLarty. In fact, she enjoys doing her share to help others, while at the same time improving herself and teaching others about life in Nunavut.

McLarty said she had fabulous experiences taking part in the Nunavut Youth Abroad Program (NYAP) while she was a student at Maani Ulujuk high school in Rankin.

She said her time in the NYAP convinced her to jump at the chance to join a similar program.

"I want to go overseas to do what I can to help, and I've always wanted to go to Europe one day, so this is a perfect fit for me because it's an opportunity to do both," said McLarty.

"I went to Ontario for the Canadian Phase of the NYAP and Botswana, Africa, for the International Phase and I thoroughly enjoyed both experiences.

"I also enjoyed my time as a summer student with the Rankin detachment of the RCMP this past year, and that further encouraged me to keep involved with projects that help make the world a better place."

McLarty is also looking at the Nepal trip as a way to better herself professionally.

She said the experience she gains from the trip will help her be a better teacher down the road.

"I will learn more by going overseas and working with other youth at an orphanage, building new homes or whatever else they have us doing.

"These types of experiences not only help you build upon your skill set, but you also learn more about yourself and people of other countries and cultures.

"You can always incorporate what you gain from these experiences into your teaching, or whatever profession you've chosen for your life."