If you get asked to donate money to Alaska – don’t panic, you won’t be bankrolling an entire state of America.

Bethlehem College student Alaska Shaw, 13, known as ‘Ali’ to her friends and family, is teaching kids how to ride horses to raise money for a mission trip to Fiji in August.

“This is an amazing opportunity for her to serve Jesus,” said her mum Shanelle Shaw.

“For some of the trip they will be partnering with Bethel Community Church over there with building a church and ministry work. They will also be helping solo mothers and their children.”

Ali said she wanted to help people in need on a bigger scale.

“Our church does pancakes and hotdogs at the end of every service and I help with that, but I’d like to do more.”

Ali and her horse Luxy give lessons at their house at Aongatete.

She’s also doing odd jobs such as cleaning, plus raffles, to raise enough money to secure a spot in the group of 17 Bethlehem College students on the trip, which begins August 31.

“I wanted to use my own resources, I guess,” she said.

The trip will cost about $2400. So far Ali has managed to cover the cost of getting her passport renewed plus another $1500. The Australian-born teen hasn’t been on a plane since she made the trans-Tasman flight as a child.

“I’m really excited about it,” she said.

“We’re helping solo mums with ways to set up a business and I think we’ll be teaching the kids new games. It really resonates with me.”

Shanelle said there’s a lot of poverty in Fiji “and I was a little surprised that she [Ali] wanted to go because she can be a homebody”.

“It will be hard but she’s always helping people so the trip will be great. It’s such a crucial age to find meaning and purpose. The benefits to a young person going on a trip like this are immeasurable.”

Donations to Alaska Shaw’s mission trip to Fiji can be made by direct bank transfer to: Account name: S Shaw. Account no: 02-1210-0055194-025.