Making a difference How UCLan students and Cambodian street children are benefiting from UCLan’s pioneering International Travel Bursary. 42
Since its launch in 2008, UCLan’s International Travel Bursary Scheme has become a major success story among the <strong>University</strong>’s staff and student community. The scheme, which involves a bidding process to gain a cash award, enables students to add an overseas work placement, study period or specific project assignment to their educational experience at UCLan. Students can submit an individual bid or join a collaborative School bid. Recent travel destinations include China, Ethiopia, Hawaii, Oman, Pakistan, Peru and Switzerland. For the past six years, Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management students, from the School <strong>of</strong> Sport, Tourism and The Outdoors, have benefited hugely from the scheme. Each year over 100 students work in small teams, as part <strong>of</strong> their Personal Development Module, to create events that raise money for the Green Gecko Project, a charity established in 2004 to benefit the street children in Siem Reap, Cambodia. During the six years the students have been working on the project they have raised over £28,000. Senior Lecturer Mac McCarthy has led the initiative since it began. He said: “For the last few years we have used the project to help our students develop management skills and team working. Along the way they have contributed a phenomenal amount to the Green Gecko School in Cambodia. “For the past three years, International Travel Bursary funding has enabled our students to visit Cambodia for a two-week experience. On the last occasion we visited the country it was the Cambodian New Year and our students were able to sample a huge array <strong>of</strong> cultural activities and participate in the fun. In the second week we travelled to the Green Gecko School where our students volunteered to teach and work with the children.” He added: “I think students gain a lot from these experiences and at different levels. First and foremost they gain problem-solving skills, decision-making and communication skills. Beyond that they deepen their understanding <strong>of</strong> being in a different culture in a real and meaningful way. The last thing, as many <strong>of</strong> the students will testify, is that it’s a life changing experience. It certainly gives them a very different perspective on life and how they want to live it in the future.” Immy Valentino, a BA(Hons) International Tourism and MSc International Business Management student, said: “The children at the Green Gecko School were amazing and so enthusiastic. They wanted to see us and we wanted to work with them, it was a fantastic experience. “Opportunities <strong>of</strong> this nature are obviously great for the CV but it’s so much more than that. Working with the children and realising that you’re making a real difference to their lives is so rewarding. I think the experience has really helped all the participating students grow as people.” Final year student Sheilla Wakefield, BA(Hons) Event Management, added: "It was a really great experience and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to be a part <strong>of</strong> such a different way <strong>of</strong> life. I've always thought about eventually living and working in another country but the Green Gecko experience has created a significant change in me and given me more focus - I'm now looking into taking a course in TESOL so that I can do more <strong>of</strong> what I did in Cambodia and make a difference to the lives <strong>of</strong> others through teaching." ‘ Working with the children and realising that you’re making a real difference to their lives is so rewarding. I think the experience has really helped all the participating students grow as people. ‘ 43
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