This year I have been given a once in a lifetime five-week placement in Knysna, South Africa. I believe this opportunity will be a fantastic way to enhance my future employability, contribute experience towards my degree and allows me to try to make an imprint to the communities in a developing economy.

I am currently in my second year of study at the University of Chester studying sociology. I will be working alongside Edge of Africa, who provide students with life-changing programs. During the five weeks, I will be engaging in a number of humanitarian projects with women, children and the elderly of a different culture to empower them to build sustainable lives within their community, such as working with schools to offer lessons on language and maths to help young people in the community develop crucial skills which will be beneficial to them in the future; assist in school improvements that will enhance learning environments for children; help in the fight against the HIV epidemic through improving the awareness of HIV by running workshops and also supporting the elderly who don't have family they can rely on.

Edge of Africa has been successfully operating community empowerment and wildlife conservation projects in South Africa since 2007. Their award-winning programs are handled and funded entirely by volunteers like myself. As part of the process, I will fundraise to help cover the costs of my time there, and some will go to the organisation itself. The placement fee includes all the operating expenses, accommodation, food, transport, coordinators and 24/7 emergency support. Also, it will fund the programs on an ongoing basis which allows them to ensure the sustainability of the projects in vulnerable communities.

As part of my fundraising, I have arranged a skydive for 24th March in Brigg, Lincolnshire, where I will jump 15,000 feet out of a plane for a free fall time of 60 seconds. One thing I am certain of is that there will be a very funny video to watch after this so watch this space!

I will really appreciate any support that you can give me to help raise funds necessary to go on this once in a lifetime opportunity, not only for myself but for the community groups I hope to impact through my volunteering.

Thank you.