Next April I will be completing the Early Season Challenge 50 mile bike ride in Chester to raise money as, starting on the 22nd of July I will be joining Projects Abroad to spend two weeks volunteering in the intriguing Nepalese capital, Kathmandu from where I will then travel to Chitwan where I will volunteer in a hospital. While on this trip, I will gain an insight into medical practices in Nepal, experience a multi-speciality hospital and take part in lectures at the local teaching hospital but most importantly this trip will give me an immense head start in terms of following my aspirations, as many of you know (hence the picture!) I want to become a Midwife in the future and as the work experience is so specialised, it will hopefully put me at great advantage and make me stand out from the other applicants when applying to University.

I look at my time abroad not only as a way to give back but also as a way to gain a better insight into the world around me. While I am volunteering I will be living with the my fellow volunteers and I believe that the long-term relationships that I hope to make with my project colleagues and patients will be of great value to me as well as them. At the end of my project I hope to return with a better understanding of the country I’m volunteering in, and hopefully know more about my future in Midwifery.

I’m choosing to volunteer through an organisation called Projects Abroad. Projects Abroad was established in 1992 as a volunteer English-teaching programme in Eastern Europe and has since grown to offer a wide range of opportunities in volunteering, internships, and language courses in over 25 destinations around the globe. I will be joining a community of well over 50,000 volunteers past and present that have lent their time and effort to giving back around the world. So I know I will be safe in their care.

As this experience is unpaid, I will need to cover costs for things like flights, the Projects Abroad programme fee and vaccinations. I plan funding through sponsorships and fundraising events. I am also relying on the help of my friends and family. Even a small amount will get me one step closer to my goal. So I would be immensely grateful if any of my friends and family could donate anything- thank you in advance for any support you can give. Wish me luck on my cycle!