Otago Girls’ High School year 13 student Ida Hills, 18, has been selected as one of eight students across New Zealand to visit Sao Paulo as a part of the Young Enterprise Scheme.
She will fly out at the end of September to work with Brazilian students on challenges surrounding the United Nations’ 17 sustainable development goals.
Her business studies teacher Duncan Trickey said she was a very humble student who never had profit on her mind for her business ideas.
They were always about social good.
Last year she had worked on a project that would recycle food waste from Dunedin businesses and turn it into compost.
Ida was a "natural people person", Mr Trickey said.
She said when she was younger her mother encouraged her to put her hand up to all opportunities.
She was excited by the opportunity to learn about Brazilian culture and meet the people there.
"I’m very into socialising and I’ve always wanted to go there as a kid."
Ida wanted to see the similarities and differences between the way people lived in New Zealand and in Brazil.
Next year she is planning to study international business at university to help the Pasifika community.
Mt Aspiring College student Alexis-Sofia Harvey was also one of the eight selected to go on the trip.
