"The breadth of what you can do with the motto 'be kind' is massive."

As a carer for both her partner, who has spina bifida, and her daughter, who has serious mental health issues, Sarah Burnhope has always dedicated her life to looking after other people.

But she is now finding ways to help others both close to home and overseas, after joining the fundraising team of US-based charity Random Acts.

After successfully applying for a grant of $400 to buy sleeping bags for rough sleepers in Boscombe, Sarah has set her sights on something bigger and has challenged herself to raise $5,000 towards the charity's Dreams to Acts project, which is rebuilding the San Juam Del Sur free high school in Nicaragua.

"The school site is for adults who, for whatever reason, cannot attend a normal school," explains Sarah, who lives in Boscombe.

"People who work, women with children, pregnant girls. They go every Saturday to the school and get various technology degrees and diplomas. We're not just giving them a boost - we're giving them a way to help themselves.

"The school is already running - it was going to have run anyway - but they decided to build a whole new, shining, up-to-date campus. Hundreds of people attend this school and they have tents and marquees and buses outside, so all we are doing is giving them a new home."

Random Acts, which was started by Supernatural actor Misha Collins in response to the Haiti disaster in 2010, has already completed one new building, and is now working on a second, with three brand new classrooms.

The charity is planning a grand opening ceremony at the school in February, and is offering anyone who raises $5,000 towards the project a ticket to the event - although those invited will have to pay all their own travel and accommodation costs to ensure every penny raised will go directly to the school.

"I've been fundraising for this project for a couple of years, asking friends and family to get involved," says Sarah, who trained to be a nurse but had to give up her course when her marriage broke down.

"But this year I decided to go for broke - this is my goal. I've raised about $2,000 by writing emails to people, explaining about the project. I make knitted things and auction them for charity, just trying to get as much as I can.

"I've been auctioning off signed memorabilia - I don't think you can ask people for money unless you're willing to sacrifice things yourself.

"I have until November to raise the other $4,000. Hopefully we can make a difference to the wider Nicaragua. These people that are going through the school are going to be lawyers and social workers and craftsmen."

Even if Sarah doesn't manage to raise the $5,000 in time, every penny she collects will go directly to the Dreams to Act project - something she finds incredibly rewarding, particularly given her personal experience.

"My daughter has really serious mental health issues and she wasn't able to complete school," she explains. "She was really ill. I see the difficulties that she's had in this country trying to get back into education.

"Seeing these people that have to cross a river to get to school - if they're going to do that, then they deserve everything that we are going to give them.

"I think it's a privilege to be able to help people as well, to be able to give people something that they need. I think there's something very humbling about it."

Although she often finds herself feeling isolated as a full-time carer for her partner and daughter, Sarah says becoming involved with Random Acts has given her a new sense of purpose which, she hopes, may lead to a future career.

"I wanted to make a mark on my community and on the world outside of my own living room. It gives me a broader focus - who can I help now?Where can I go? Hopefully, that will lead me to some sort of career in fundraising.

"It makes you feel very brave and it makes you feel you're making a difference. It can do a lot for your self-esteem."

But perhaps the most rewarding of all is the effect Sarah's tireless work has had on her children.

"I want to set an example for my kids," she says.

"I've had a lot of interesting conversations with my 12-year-old about why it's important to help other people. What's a really nice feeling is having your 12-year-old say that they're proud of you."

To support Sarah's fundraising, visit crowdrise.com/dreams-to-acts-nicaragua-2017/fundraiser/sarahburnhope

For more about Random Acts, go to randomacts.org and for information about the Dreams to Act project, visit nicaragua.randomacts.org