As many of you know, I am currently undertaking a degree in Midwifery; something that has been such a huge change in my life and that I absolutely LOVE!

As part of my course, I get the opportunity to do a 2 week international midwifery placement - as soon as I heard about this I knew I wanted to go to Africa.
Having visited Tanzania back in 2009, and seen the poverty, devastation and disease that is considered "everyday" out there, I knew that this was the perfect opportunity to head back out there and try to help however I can.

In Tanzania, the stillbirth rate and maternal death rates are incredibly high, as well as the rates of pre-eclampsia and postpartum haemorrhage - they simply do not have the facilities or the skills & education to be able to help.

By heading out to Arusha in Tanzania, and working in the hospital over there for two weeks, I will be gaining clinical experience of these very unusual circumstances, and learning how midwifery care is carried out with such limited facilities in, quite often, incredibly high risk situations, as well as trying to help pass on some of the skills and techniques that I have learnt in the UK to the teams out there.

This is something I am unbelievably passionate about - I just know that I can make a difference!

Overall, this trip is going to cost nearly £1800, including flights, visas, vital equipment which I will be donating to the hospital after I leave, my accommodation while I am working at the hospital etc etc.

I am going to be undertaking various fundraising activities over the next few months to try to raise as much as possible (yes, alongside the crazy that will be second-year!) - I'm looking at things like sponsored sky-dives and other equally mad ventures! I'll keep you posted!

If you can spare any pennies (or pounds!) to help me raise some of the funds I need to get out there and achieve this once-in-a-lifetime experience, it really would mean the world!

Thank you!!

Rosie xxx