My future

Project Trust Project Trust is a gap year organisation. It sends over 250 17 – 19 years aboard every year. It is all run from the remote isle of coll in the Northwest of Scotland.

I have recently returned from a selection course on the isle of Coll I have recently returned from a selection course on the isle of Coll. We had to carry out many tasks from hill walking and digging to teaching and giving presentations. I will return to the island in July for a training course and I will leave in September.

There are many different projects to choose from in Asia, Africa and South America. The projects include teaching to people of different ages, social care in orphanages and out of bounds which involves work with street kids. The projects are also available to Europeans but it is a long journey to coll.

I am going to South Africa, the eastern cape I am going to South Africa, the eastern cape. I will be in a pair and living in a rural area. I will be working in a hospital and a pharmacy and occasionally teaching. During the project you are given about 10 weeks off to travel wherever you want. You also get visits from a project trust representative to make sure you doing well in your project

Fundraising £4950 ceilidh, backpacking, charities and businesses, car boot sale, raffles, family and friends

What is the money used for? Selection Training Debriefing Flights 24 hour accident and medical insurance Overseas back up Accommodation Pocket Money (enough to live on)

Travel I am planning on visiting South Africa’s greatest sites such as Kruger national park and Cape town. Also, I am hoping to save some money and travel to wider parts of Africa and maybe fly to Thailand.

Precautions Injections: Tetanus, polio, diphtheria, Hepatitis A and B Training: About culture, what is appropriate, lifestyle.

Consequences A family friend was in Africa, working in a hospital. She was taking a malaria tablet but she missed a few and almost died. She was unable to fly home until weeks later and because her parents had not had any jabs they could not go out to see her. Although I am looking forward to this I have to realise there is dangers as well.

Consequences Natural disasters: Project trust had many volunteers in Sri Lanka, India and Thailand when the tsunami hit in 2004. Many volunteers were on the beach front when the tsunami hit and they had to swim to safety. Thankfully everyone survived.

Natural disasters: Again project trust had 20 volunteers teaching English in Japan during the tsunami a few weeks ago. Again, all the volunteers are safe but depending on the situation decision may have to be made, whether it is necessary to bring volunteers home.

A chance to travel Learn a new language To gain medical experience to prepare for university Learn to look after myself A break from formal education Experience how others live

University Many universities give students the opportunity to do part of their degree aboard. Although may courses allow students to do so, it is very popular for medical students to do so. After taking a gap year in Africa I am hoping to also study medicine at Dundee University .

Dundee University In Year 5 the year commences with a six week clinical elective which will involve the student planning to experience an area of clinical interest in a place of choice, home or abroad, from a highly technological and sophisticated experience to a 3rd World experience.