A HATFIELD woman was one of 500 to win an apprenticeship at the charity of her choice.

Eleanor Gouldthorpe has been chosen from more than 1,100 applicants to win a place on the Vodafone Foundation’s 2009 World of Difference UK Programme.

The 22-year-old will spend two months working for Article 25, an organisation that works to provide properly designed and built buildings where they are needed to help develop a route out of poverty or rebuild in post-disaster areas around the world.

The Holme Road woman, who will begin her placement this month, said: “I was really surprised and very happy to find I had won a place with World of Difference.

“I love Article 25’s work and am really looking forward to working with the fundraising team.”

This is the first World of Difference UK programme launched by the Vodafone Foundation.

As part of the scheme, the mobile phone company will pay each charity �2,500, of which the winner gets the balance once tax and National Insurance has been paid.

In addition she will receive a new mobile phone with pre-paid credit.