When two University of Sunderland students were looking for a placement this summer, they decided to go a little further afield \u2013 taking the 7,000 mile journey from Sunderland to Tanzania.<\/p>\n
Charlotte Eastick and Alisha Knox, both 23, are in the second year of their BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy degree at the University.<\/p>\n
They will spend six weeks this summer in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania putting their studies into practice \u2013 and encountering situations that working in the NHS could never prepare them for.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we\u2019re in Dar es Salaam I\u2019ll be working in a local hospital and outpatient clinics that provides occupational therapy services following procedures such as a post-amputation,\u201d says Charlotte, from Sunderland.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will be dealing with conditions that I wouldn\u2019t generally deal with in the UK, such as leprosy and clubfoot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be a unique learning experience we could not get here in the UK,\u201d agrees Alisha, from Hartlepool.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will develop our patient-centred communication skills and help us form positive professional relationships with patients.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve also been trying to learn the local language, and while we\u2019re in Tanzania we\u2019ll have two Swahili lessons a week, which should help us connect better with patients and colleagues there.\u201d<\/p>\n
While dealing with unfamiliar medical conditions while learning Swahili may seem a daunting prospect to most people, it is typical of Charlotte and Alisha that they have both taken the challenge in their stride.<\/p>\n
They first heard about the opportunity to travel to Tanzania through the company Work the World, which offers placements abroad for student doctors, nurses, midwives and other allied health professions.<\/p>\n
They seized on the chance to take up this once in a lifetime opportunity, but then faced a further barrier to their ambition \u2013 they both had to raise over \u00a35,000 each to fund the trip.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs well as studying for our degree we really had to work hard to fundraise towards our trip,\u201d says Charlotte.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hosted a bake sale, filled in football cards, sold crochet gift sets and sold hampers. We also set up a GoFundMe page, where people very generously pledged over \u00a3910.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have made such a good team,\u201d says Alisha. \u201cAs well as the support of our friends and family and all our fundraising we have been lucky enough to receive grants from the University\u2019s Futures Fund to cover the costs of our flights, and the Rotary Club of Sunderland has also donated money to us towards our trip costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were also awarded the Barbara Tyldesley award from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. We are so grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nina Bedding, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy at the University of Sunderland, says: “When Charlotte and Alisha expressed an interest in an overseas placement I was absolutely delighted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking with Work the World they will travel to experience a diverse placement in Tanzania.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am expecting them to work with patients who have unfamiliar conditions and witness some inventive practice and techniques.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will be emersed in a unique culture that we cannot provide replicate here \u2013 it really will be an amazing experience. I am really excited to follow their journey.”<\/p>\n
Charlotte and Alisha are now preparing for departure to Tanzania in May where they spend six weeks working with patients.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know it\u2019s going to be difficult being away from my support network at home especially since I\u2019m such a home body,\u201d says Alisha.<\/p>\n
\u201cSix weeks isn\u2019t that long, but I have never been away from home for that amount of time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am slightly worried about being away from home and my friends and family for six weeks, but this was too good of an opportunity not to miss!\u201d says Charlotte.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am particularly looking forward to meeting fellow occupational therapists in Dar es Salaam.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have also been able to book an add-on safari experience which I am so excited for! We will be spending the weekend in Mikumi National Park where will have the chance to see lions, leopards, giraffes, elephants and so much more.\u201d<\/p>\n
The University of Sunderland\u2019s Futures Fund was established to support students to develop their careers and aspirations. Students can apply for funding of up to \u00a32,500.<\/p>\n