Geddes available for Central America commissions

A STUDENT journalist is gearing up for the trip of a lifetime this summer, and is available for commissioned, freelance work.

Erik Geddes – a third-year journalism student at Caledonian University who works at freesheet, Local News Glasgow – is spending the summer in Mexico, Guatemala and across Central America.

The 33 year-old has been writing football copy for the past three season and hopes that Mexico City will be the scene of the biggest party on earth if they progress past the group stages of the World Cup.

But it won’t all be fun and games.

Guatemala is suffering heavily with destruction from the landslides caused by the tropical storm, Agatha, and ash from volcano, Pacaya.

99 people have already been confirmed dead and a further 120,000 people have been evacuated from their homes.

Says Erik: “While we hope to have a great time on our trip I need to find out what the people in the worst-hit communities and regions are doing to rebuild their lives – and to see what help they are getting.

“Some sources warn of this being the worst hurricane season Central America has had for generations.”

His girlfriend, Kristen Macarthur, who is a Glasgow School of Art graduate and reportage photographer, will join Erik on the working holiday.

The pair leave on the 15th of next month. He can be contacted at erikgeddes@hotmail.com.