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EXPLORING THE WORLD

WITH PROJECT TRUST

At Heriot’s we are proud of the number of former pupils who continue the ethos of distributing chearfullie beyond
the gates of Lauriston Place.

Quadrangle caught up with three FPs from the classes of 2018 and 2019 who participated in Project Trust, a Alexandra Massey (2018)
global volunteering initiative that provides gap year opportunities for young people. Project Trust encourages Sri Lanka and Myanmar, Asia
its participants to challenge themselves, learn about the world and how to be a positive force within it. What did you do on your project? both a different lifestyle and teaching style.
I volunteered in three schools in Sri Lanka This was a great personal learning experience
Alexandra, Ellen and Hector were empowered by the scheme and able to explore their potential following their
teaching English to children aged between 5 and and showed my ability to adapt to different
Heriot’s education which has had a lasting impact on their respective career paths. 10 years old and was lucky enough to live in a situations quickly. What is your advice to other Herioters
thinking of participating?
house within the grounds of one of the schools
What did you learn that will stay with you? Project Trust is one of the best things I have ever
with three other girls. My project objectives were
Throughout my time in Zambia, I rarely met one What would you say to other Herioters One of the biggest takeaways is the exposure I done and if anyone is looking for a life-changing
Ellen Whitehouse (2019) to successfully teach English to these young
person who never had a smile on their face and thinking of participating in the scheme? had to different cultures making me feel more experience this is the perfect thing for you.
Petauke, Zambia children, whilst having fun and making sure they
would not say ‘Bwanji’ (‘hello’ in Chinyanja, the Before I applied to Project Trust I had looked informed about the world I live in. By immersing I have learnt so much from my gap year and
What did you do on your project? local language). Being welcoming and friendly is into other gap year companies but they enjoyed every lesson I delivered. I wanted to myself into the cultures I lived in, I was able to these skills will be highly transferable throughout
I taught maths, physics and biology in a part of the Zambian way, something I think is seemed very ‘touristy’. I wanted something make a positive difference to these children’s have the best experience possible and developed my whole life. I really felt like I made a
secondary school to pupils aged 14-23. dearly missing in the UK. They are always happy, more rewarding where I could embrace a new lives as English is a valuable skill to have in Sri lifelong skills. I now feel more open-minded, keen difference to the lives of the children I taught
Alongside following the curriculum, providing even when the most horrible things happen, and culture and challenge myself, which is exactly Lanka as several jobs require this proficiency. to learn more about global issues, and resilient to and they will always have a special place in my
homework and helping out at after-school can always see the positives in a situation, what Project Trust provided. The family feel of I also taught netball to older girls at the school challenges I may come across in life. heart. I became more independent and resilient
study sessions, I was in charge of creating the something which I really benefitted from. the charity helped in difficult times and the I lived in which was one of my highlights of the How did the experience impact the next from my experience away which prepared me
end of term tests for physics, since I taught the year! These girls rarely got to play sport at school for university and beyond.
How did it impact on the next step of your experience they have was much needed when and it was amazing to see them improve so step of your career?
majority of the classes for Grade 10. Though
career? struggling with the project. Going to Zambia much over the 8 months I taught them. Every I currently study Psychology at university and
teaching wasn’t everything, I got to help out was the best thing I have ever done and I can’t
Even though I have always been a talkative Friday afternoon they would arrive at netball from working with children and young adults
with extra-curricular clubs and join in with the wait to go back and see the amazing friends
person, the communication skills I learnt in training with the biggest smiles on their faces during my gap year I realised how much I loved
school’s culture nights, teaching some Scottish I made there, those who really made my time
Zambia have helped me so much in my later and were so eager to learn! working and helping other people especially
slang to the pupils! there special and invited me into their homes
jobs. The ability to communicate with those young children. I am yet to decide what I wish
Was there one ‘takeaway’ that will stay and showed me their culture. I would 100% I was evacuated from Sri Lanka to Myanmar
who didn’t speak English to students who to do after university but my gap year had
with you? recommend anybody interested in Project Trust after the Easter Sunday bombing which was very
would not listen, have provided me with the definitely made me realise how much I want to
There were so many amazing experiences on my patience and ability to interact with others a lot to do it. Be mindful that it isn’t amazing all the sad. In Myanmar, I taught novice monks English. work and help others. My gap year experience
time away, like dancing and singing traditional better. Alongside this, the joy that I got from time, however what you learn and experience I lived in another school I worked at with other improved my leadership skills as well as my
songs with the female teachers for International teaching my students and seeing them excel outweighs it all. volunteers. The students there had great English communication and independence which
knowledge already which was a change to what
Women’s Day, in-front of all the other female (especially those who believed they would fail), I have noticed definitely helps me through
I was used to in Sri Lanka. After being evacuated
teachers in the district. However, my time without brought me so much happiness which has certain situations at university.
from Sri Lanka to Myanmar I had to adapt to
constant running water or power really opened opened my eyes to a possible career in
my eyes to what actually matters in life and the teaching after I finish my Psychology degree.
things that you need to make you happy.