Moray Volunteer Returns from Malawi

April 17, 2009 - PRLog -- Moray girl, Esme Saville, has recently returned from a Lattitude Global Volunteering placement in Malawi, where she lived, and taught in schools, for almost a year.
After studying for her Higher Examinations, Esme couldn’t decide what she wanted to do at university, so she chose to take a year out to embark on a different kind of adventure and fulfil her dream to volunteer in Africa.

Thanks to not-for-profit organisation, Lattitude Global Volunteering, Esme was soon placed in Malawi for seven months, to teach children from nursery right up to secondary level, but she enjoyed the experience so much that she extended her placement and stayed for almost a year.

Before the trip, Lattitude arranged a Teaching Skills training week in London for Esme and several other volunteers, which helped to prepare Esme for the challenge she was about to face.

“I found that I was comfortable with teaching by the second week” says Esme.  “It became a natural task and I took to it very quickly. The kids made it so easy for me- they interacted and understood everything I said, which helped!”

During Esme’s stay in the Malawian district of Zomba, she became involved in various extracurricular activities, including a Shakespeare Festival, celebrating his 444th birthday.  Esme directed her class in a performance of Macbeth, as part of a global performance, with countries all over the world performing a Shakespeare play at 7pm local time over a 24 hour period.

“Lattitude is such a worthwhile organisation, giving people the opportunity to volunteer abroad, which allows you to experience different cultures, make friends and explore.  It even gives you the chance to get to know yourself” says Esme.  “I will always carry the lessons that I have learnt from my placement in Malawi, and adapt them to future situations I am faced with.”

Esme’s Lattitude experience has also helped her make a decision about what to do next.  “Teaching classes of up to 80 pupils made me realise that I am good at communications, and I am now going on to study a 4 year degree in Communications and Public Relations at The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen” explains Esme.  “I learnt a lot about myself during my time in Malawi and now that I have taken time out and had this truly amazing experience, I am ready to take the next step”.

Lattitude Global Volunteering offers numerous placements, such as teaching, healthcare and community projects, in various countries around the world.  To find out more details about the charity, and all upcoming events, visit http://www.lattitude.org.uk or call 0118 959 4914
   
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Lattitude Global Volunteering (Lattitude) is a charity specialising in volunteering for 17 – 25 year olds. We have a global vision and aim to provide unique experiences of voluntary work placements for young people from around the world.

Lattitude is an organisation with attitude. We are passionately concerned about the world; we are passionately concerned about the issues facing us all, our families and our communities; and we are passionately concerned to make a difference.

Lattitude has a global network of placements that spans 20 countries for British volunteers and includes projects in conservation, caring, community, camps and outdoor, medical, sports coaching, teaching, and language assisting. Current destinations include Canada, Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Brazil, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, Australia, China, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, Vietnam, Vanuatu and India.