For as long as I can remember, acts of service has felt natural to me – not for recognition but rather for the quiet reward it brings. I’d credit most of that to my family, where I’ve seen selflessness in action the most each day. With time, I became more aware of the inequalities around me, and I recognised the uncomfortable truth that so many people are born into hardships through no fault of their own.

That awareness stayed with me, and it shaped the direction I took — especially in choosing a career in Social Care. Over the past three years, I’ve worked closely with people navigating real struggles, and this has strengthened my conviction that real change starts with empathy and action, both which I had to initiate.

So when I chose to volunteer abroad, it wasn’t about ticking a box or chasing an experience. It was never about wanderlust. It came from the same place that’s always driven me — the desire to step outside my own world and ask, what can I offer?

Volunteering abroad felt like the next honest step in that journey. A chance to learn, connect, and show up with purpose – and serve.