Celebrating 50 years of young people volunteering overseas

Now in its 50th anniversary year, educational charity Project Trust is celebrating the incredible work done by its Volunteers overseas.

Every year, up to 300 school leavers embark on a journey that starts with Selection and Training at Project Trust’s headquarters on the Hebridean Isle of Coll. They then complete an eight- or 12-month placement in teaching, youth & social care, or outdoor education, in one of 20 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Last year, Project Trust Volunteers taught and supported over 40,000 children, young people and adults around the world, developing a whole range of skills in the process. One of these Volunteers was Jamie Porter from Helensburgh, who spent a year living and working in Botswana at Bana ba Metsi, a school which supports boys and young men from disadvantaged backgrounds. As a Volunteer, Jamie was able to teach the boys practical skills like construction and brick-making, as well as taking full responsibility for coordinating extra-curricular activities such as sport, swimming and art.

Reflecting on his time in Botswana, Jamie says: “Most of our students came from troubled backgrounds of abuse, crime and homelessness, so it was imperative to encourage them to take their last chance at education seriously, which I worked hard to do throughout the year. I was able to show them the power of a good education, and the opportunities it could unlock for them.”

As well as gaining valuable skills in leadership, self-confidence and resilience, Volunteers who go overseas with Project Trust also have the opportunity to gain a Diploma in International Volunteering, which is recognised by UCAS. Jamie is now studying Civil Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, but his time with Project Trust continues to have an impact on him. “My year with Project Trust was utterly life-changing. While I knew I would never change the world, knowing that I had potentially helped give even a few of my students better prospects, not just educationally but also socially, was the best feeling ever. I will always cherish the friends I have made and the things I have learnt along the way, and it was Project Trust that gave me the opportunity to achieve this.”

Applications are now open for all students finishing school in 2019 – find out more and sign up at www.projecttrust.org.uk.