The First Stepping Stones

Last summer whilst exploring the streets of Chiang Mai I was inspired to do something extraordinary. As part of my Psychology degree we have the chance to spend a year on a work placement, so I felt this was the perfect opportunity to explore the world and challenge myself! After countless hours of research, persuasion and determination I began to organise my next big adventure. This was certainly not a simple process - the University have specific rules and regulations to follow, plus it’s rare for psychology students to go abroad unless they’re doing academic research (a tad too dull for me!). I decided to push the boundaries and go one step further, ignoring others doubts and never giving up my hopes.

So in just seventeen days now I will be on my way to Tanzania to begin 10 weeks of my first project with Raleigh International. Their programme is part of an on-going mission to make a long lasting difference on deprived communities around the world. I will be working alongside volunteers from Tanzania on a project that tackles issues around education, health, livelihoods, strengthening civil society and protecting the local environment. When I applied in January it seemed like light-years away, however June has definitely crept up fast! Now that my exams have finished I thought it was finally time to begin writing a blog.

As part of the programme I had to fundraise £800 for the Raleigh International Trust, to allow them to continue bringing about positive change in developing communities. I was involved with various events and with everyone’s assistance I have raised a grand total of £821.63! This was mainly through sponsorship, as somehow Lorna and Becky persuaded me to run the Plymouth Half Marathon… After training through the wind and rain I managed to complete the 13.1 miles in a comfortable 2h38m, before hobbling to the library to prepare for my exam the next day!

 

 

 

To boost the sponsorships I also skydived 15,000ft from a plane, freefalling at 120mph before catching my breath again for a great view of Devon- it was incredible!

 

I raised the rest of the money through cake sales, bucket raids in the Student Union, visiting a local primary school, car washing and a ten week chocolate ban. I couldn’t have achieved this without the help of all my friends and family, so thank you all for your support! A special thank you as well to Becky for encouraging me to apply and for fundraising with me :)

 

I’m getting pretty excited now as the 24th June creeps round the corner, but also quite scared! In Tanzania we will work in teams of twelve within a community, have no running water or electricity, with letters as our only form of contact. I’ve already chopped off half my hair and stocked up on wet wipes! It’s quite frightening listening to the nurse list off the endless diseases I might catch and remembering how to possibly prevent them, but I know that I’m in a very fortunate position and people have to live with those risks every day of their lives. This project is certainly going to be a challenge - but I cannot wait to get started!

Now it’s time to sort out the final details and the part I love - packing! I’m sure it’ll be time to leave before I know it.

Emma ..x