by volunteer Zoe File

In July 2023, I walked away from a secure and much-loved job as a primary school teacher to pursue a long-cherished dream of working as a volunteer teacher overseas. For years this had been nothing more than a pipe-dream, but at the age of fifty-five it finally felt that the time was right. I was motivated by two things – the opportunity to cash in a small pension which would fund a year out of full-time work; and a very supportive husband, who was happy for me to follow my dreams. At the time I had no idea what a life-changing decision it would prove to be.

I’d spent much of the previous year searching for a suitable organisation to volunteer with, but most places I found seemed to be aimed at gap year students and I was wary of those that offered placements ‘with no experience needed’. (I feel very strongly that this is wrong – we wouldn’t expect a volunteer with no previous experience to teach in a school in the UK, so why would it be ok in a developing country?). When I came across People and Places, I knew straightaway that they were exactly right for me. I was immediately attracted by their website which clearly explained the volunteer matching process and the range of projects available. The pricing policy was clear and transparent, which helped me plan a budget for my year out.

When I first contacted Dianne, she responded straightaway with suggestions for volunteer placements to fit my skills and experience: in Morocco, The Gambia and Cambodia. I think she was surprised when I told her that I wanted to do all three! With her help I planned my schedule for the year: beginning with a month in Morocco (supporting Education for All) in October, then spending a month at Treak Community School in Cambodia the following January; and my final placement would be at Mary’s Little Lambs school in The Gambia. Once we had agreed an itinerary and the vetting checks had been completed, I began to plan my placements in earnest. 

Unfortunately, even the best-laid plans rarely turn out as expected! In August 2023, I woke up to read about the devastating earthquake that had struck in the High Atlas Mountains. The boarding houses in and around Asni (where I had been due to volunteer) had all been badly damaged, and although thankfully the students hadn’t been there at the time, the resulting uncertainty and disruption meant that my volunteering stint was definitely off the table. The next few weeks involved a great deal of hurried re-arrangements as I replanned my volunteering itinerary. As always, Dianne was a calm and reassuring presence and we decided to move my placement in The Gambia forward to November. An added complication was that I’d originally planned to travel to Morocco overland and I was determined to keep as many of my original travel bookings as possible. All this meant that my journey to The Gambia started early one October morning at St Pancras station in London. I set out with hand luggage, a great deal of excitement and an even greater amount of trepidation.

A few days later, I arrived at Banjul Airport to be greeted by the wonderful Fatou (the co-ordinator for People and Places in The Gambia). At first I found The Gambia to be a huge culture shock and I was worried I’d bitten off more than I could chew, but I loved Mary’s Little Lambs from the moment I arrived there. Within a week I was settled in and the next few weeks of my placement passed very happily indeed. 

At the end of my placement, I took an overnight flight to Morocco, where I met up with my husband for the holiday that we’d originally planned for the end of my first placement. Part of our trip involved a few nights in Imlil in the High Atlas Mountains, and the route there took us through Asni, where I had been due to volunteer. It was sobering to see the canvas tents that still provided shelter for the many families who had lost their homes in the earthquake, but heartening to see the generosity and resilience of the Moroccan people. We heard so many stories of ordinary people who had donated clothes, food and essentials to help those affected by the earthquake, and it was a real privilege to be there.

I finally arrived back home in December, to spend a few weeks recharging before embarking on my second placement in Cambodia. This time, thankfully, there were no hitches! I arrived in Siem Reap in January to spend a month volunteering at Treak community school. This again was a fantastic experience and although a contrast to life in the Gambia, I loved my time there. Once again, People and Places and their partners on the ground were hugely supportive and I was lucky enough to meet Dianne, who happened to be in Siem Reap whilst I was there. 

When I arrived home in March, I really felt like I was on a roll! I had a few weeks before setting out for my third placement: although I’d hoped to return to Morocco to volunteer, it was apparent that the destruction and disruption caused by the earthquake meant that it wouldn’t be feasible to place in-country volunteers there for a long time. I was over the moon to hear that I would be able to return to The Gambia instead. I must say that my experience the second time round was wonderful and I found that I could slot right back in to life there. Once again, I loved volunteering at Mary’s Little Lambs and the school has a very special place in my heart.

I finally arrived back home in April this year after the most exciting, challenging and rewarding few months of my life. I feel incredibly lucky to be in the position to leave a secure job and pursue my dreams, and the whole experience has led me to re-evaluate my priorities and plans for the future. I’d originally intended to return to full-time teaching in September this year, but I’ve since decided against that. I’ve been able to work as a supply teacher between stints abroad, and I hope to continue dividing my time between working as a paid teacher at home and as a volunteer teacher abroad. 

If anyone reading this is wondering whether or not to volunteer, I’d say – just do it! When I began planning my year out, I genuinely had no idea how much it would affect me, both personally and professionally. Personally – I can’t believe I did it! Professionally – volunteering in schools with very limited resources was a real challenge and I’ve learned a huge amount as a result. It’s been an incredible and life-changing experience.

Finally, a huge thank-you to Dianne and Sallie at People and Places. I can’t recommend them highly enough – for their professionalism, support and above all their patience! People and Places really are an amazing organisation, and I can’t wait to volunteer with them again.

To learn more about where Zoe volunteered in The Gambia take a look here

To learn more about where Zoe volunteered in Cambodia take a look here

To learn about our programme in Morocco – where volunteers can finally visit again – take a look here