With his exams out of the way, a Falmouth teenager is setting off for Greece with a humanitarian vision to help refugees and show them that there is hope.

Chay Morris, 19, has been planning to help refugees for over a year, since he first became aware of the extent of the humanitarian crisis that is beating on Europe's shores.

He decided that the end of his exams at Falmouth Sixth Form College gave him the perfect opportunity, and has crowdfunded £1,000 to allow him to spend at least the next six weeks on the Greek island of Samos. There he will be volunteering with Samos Volunteers Group, an organisation that provides shelter and food to the people that arrive on its shores.

Asked why he had decided to make the journey, Chay said: "It's because these people are fleeing their countries for whatever reason: for war, in search of a better life, because they have dreams and hopes just like the rest of us. We have the chance to let them know that hope isn't in vain.

"We can go out and show them there is some humanity, we can do some good for them.

"There's children fleeing on their own because the rest of their family can't afford to make the rest of the journey. I don't want them to find the rest of the world doesn't give a damn.

"Individually I can't make much difference but as countries united, as people across the world, we can help these people, show there is some humanity and help them to make a better life, give them the opportunity.

"All they want is a better life away from war and fear."

Chay, who said he has always been interested in humanitarian and environmental issues, said the volunteer work is something he is really looking forward to, having wanted to help for a long time.

Last year he helped with a campaign for supplies for refugees, which were collected at the Princess Pavilion before being packaged up and sent the residents of the Jungle camp near Calais. He also held a party where everyone who came was asked to bring a box of donations.

When he arrives in Samos he will be working in the charity's warehouse at first, packing and transporting goods, before hopefully moving on to work with the people in the island's camp.

The camp is home to around 1,000 refugees, a mixture of men, women and children, who are applying for asylum, although for many of them it will not be granted.

Chay said he received more money than he hoped for with his crowdfunding campaign, and hopes that if he can afford to he will be able to stay on the island for longer.

He also recognises he is privileged to be able to go out and help, and said he feels many other people from the UK would do the same if they were able to.

He said: "They have responsibilities back here... but there's other ways for them to help. They care raise money, and awareness, and share information on social media."

He added: "I feel a bit of fear because it's going into the unknown for me. But I'm not scared of the people out there, they are much more scared than I'll ever be.

"I'm excited to be going out there and I'm happy to be going out there."

If you would like to support Chay, you can donate at gofundme.com/2k7hxrkh