I’m Amelia, a Business and Management student at Bournemouth University, and I recently travelled to Tanzania to volunteer at a childcare centre.

I’ve always loved working with children, from coaching gymnastics to gaining experience in primary schools, so volunteering in a childcare centre felt like the perfect opportunity. But I also wanted to challenge myself, become more independent and experience a different culture.

With support from Bournemouth University’s Turing Scheme, I was able to make the trip possible. The funding helped towards major costs, including my flights, and without it, I wouldn’t have been able to afford such an incredible experience.

Despite being excited, I was absolutely terrified about travelling alone. I remember crying at the airport and wondering what could possibly go wrong. But once I arrived in Tanzania, I quickly settled in with the other volunteers and made friends with people from all over the world.

The childcare centre was the part of the experience I was most excited about. I’ll never forget walking through the gates on my first day and being surrounded by children running towards me with huge smiles and open arms.

During my time there, I supported the teachers with activities and spent time singing, dancing and helping the children learn numbers and letters. The centre had far fewer resources than I was used to seeing in the UK, which showed me how resourceful the teachers had to be and how much could be achieved with very little.

Outside of volunteering, I explored more of Tanzania, visited local markets and Moshi Hot Springs, went on a sunset hike and eventually travelled to Zanzibar with friends I had met along the way.

The biggest thing Tanzania gave me was perspective. Experiencing a completely different way of life made me appreciate things I had previously taken for granted, from reliable electricity and healthcare to a warm shower and my own bed.

Most importantly, the experience gave me confidence. Travelling alone pushed me outside my comfort zone and made me realise that I’m capable of much more than I thought.

I came home with new friends, unforgettable memories and a completely different perspective on the world.

My advice to anyone thinking about applying for an international opportunity is simple: do it scared. You don’t have to feel ready to do something amazing.