What inspired you to join the Work the World team?
Back in 2014, I did some writing for Work the World’s Founder and Director. I learned about the organization in great detail and found they represented my own values.
It was an easy decision.
In a local farmer’s treetop lookout. They hide up here at night to keep an eye out for elephants who like to trample their crops
What is your work experience to date?
I’ve been a professional writer for about seven years, producing content for all the big international travel brands.
I’ve been at Work the World the World for nearly four years. The unusual combination of travel and healthcare means there’s always something new to learn. It’s a great place to work.
What position do you hold at Work the World?
I’m Work the World’s Content Developer. I work in our Marketing Team at our head office in the UK.
What you are your main responsibilities?
I’m responsible for all of our content, earning me the nickname ‘Words’, which I can’t seem to shake.
I’m manage the content on our four websites, speak with students to conduct and write interviews, research and write blog posts… Anything involving words falls into my domain.
Catering to the needs and interests of our students is at the heart of everything we do
How do you use your own international experiences in your current role?
Since I write all of Work the World’s content, drawing from my travel experiences—both in Work the World destinations and elsewhere—is par for the course in my job.
What is the best bit about working for your organization?
Being responsible for conveying the idea that overseas healthcare internships are life-changing.
I’m a passionate believer in the idea that travel is transformative. Combine that with something vocational like healthcare and you’ve got an experience that’s going to change you as a person. Very few people get the chance to do something like this.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit some of our programs. I’ve watched students develop into stronger, more competent people. It’s fantastic.
How does Work the World differ to other organizations?
We pay a unique level of attention to you as a student and to your experience before, during and after your trip.
Every member of the Work the World team really cares about making sure every trip exceeds expectations. We get astonishingly good feedback.
We’re all about personalization and flexibility of choice. You choose where you want to go. You choose which departments you want to work in. We build an experience with your name on it.
What hopes do you have for the future of Work the World?
That’s quite a question. I’ll answer as succinctly as I can.
I want us to keep the students—for whom we customize placements—at the center of everything we do. It’s the reason we’re as successful as we are and everyone who works here understands that.
Being cooked alive in the Philippines is something our students can experience
Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of Work the World.
I interview students about their experiences and write them up for our websites. There’s nothing more rewarding than listening to someone excitedly recounting their experience overseas.
I feel the most proud when people tell me that their experience changed their life.
That’s why I can confidently use that phrase ‘life-changing’ in relation to our experiences. It’s not something we made up, it’s something that we hear over and again.
Which Work the World destinations have you visited, and which has been your favorite?
Kathmandu is amazing, especially when they let you drive your own bike taxi
I can tell you where I’ve been, but I can’t decide which is my favorite. I’ve visited the Philippines, Nepal, and Sri Lanka—in that order. They each have their own character.
We have two programs in Nepal, one in Pokhara—a beautiful lakeside city in the foothills of the Himalayas—and one in Kathmandu—a lively metropolis with heaps of ancient history and culture.
We also have two programs in Sri Lanka, one in Anuradhapura—a green rural city surrounded by rice paddies with Buddhist culture at its heart—and one in Kandy—a bustling center-point of contemporary Sri Lankan culture (make sure you visit the Temple of the Tooth if you go here).
The Philippines is a Southeast Asian tropical paradise. What more need I say?
Why do you think it is important for people to travel?
I think it’s crucial that people travel if they have the means. I’m bullish on perspective-enriching experiences. Adding depth and breadth to the context of our lives, travel can help us to become better, more well-rounded people. It’s powerful stuff.
What advice do you have for someone considering a healthcare internship abroad?
Stop considering it and speak to us today. The opportunity to do something like this doesn’t come around every day. You’ll have the time of your life and come out the other side a better person.
