TWO Cockermouth teenagers who have led the town climate strikes have both been offered scholarships with an international college.

United World Colleges, a global education movement with 18 establishments on four different continents, aims to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures, for peace and a sustainable future.

Each year students are selected from 150 countries, including 25 from the UK.

Best friends Clare Rodger and Isabella Bridgman, both 15, were among hundreds of British students who applied. They took part in a rigorous selection process in Wales and were delighted to hear they had both been offered a place.

Clare will be heading to Costa Rica in August, where she will study for the next two years.

Isabella is going to the movement’s founding college in Wales – the only one in the UK.

They will each be studying alongside pupils from 80 other nationalities.

Both of them are interested in working in the environmental or humanitarian sector in the future.

The girls are looking forward to learning about different countries and cultures by living with a huge cross section of people.

Isabella said: “Wales was my first choice. It’s well established and they have a focus on sustainability.

“It also means I’m close to my family.”

Clare said: “Costa Rica was on my list, partly because I really want to improve my Spanish and there’s a really interesting climate, with the rainforest. There will be lots of school trips which I’m looking forward to.

“I’m a bit worried about missing my family but I know the colleges have a great sense of community.”

The girls have organised seven town climate strikes since February last year.

“We feel passionate about stopping the climate crisis and are inspired by Greta Thunberg. We wanted to make a small difference in the local community,” said Isabella.

They have both been offered bursaries which cover the majority of the cost but need to find the remainder.

Isabella needs to raise £4,000 to secure her place. She has set up a crowdfunding page (https://gf.me/u/xpf8ty) and will also be organising cake sales and quizzes.