Staff Interview with Tiffany Shadrick

What inspired you to work for Tiritose?

The biggest inspiration that drove me to work for Tiritose was the opportunity to experience something new and different to anything I had ever done. This is my first time working in education abroad and most importantly meaningful and sustainable travelling, which is something that sparked a hidden interest in me. Also, being able to provide a unique and fulfilling experience to the interns and volunteers is something that inspired me to work for Tiritose. I was very drawn by the ability to provide all our programme participants with a wholesome experience of what Zimbabwe has to offer. Tiritose is more than just a student and active youth travel company and being given the opportunity to be a part of the goal is inspirational.

Why do you do what you do?

I do what I do because I enjoy it and it provides an opportunity to incorporate what I do into a career path. I love the concept that Tiritose provides about meaningful travelling and that is the biggest reason why I bought into the vision of the company. Being able to provide foreign students and volunteers with an opportunity to experience a side of Zimbabwe that they won’t be able to experience through anyone else brings me a lot of joy. Lastly, I do what I do because I enjoy my job. Bringing Tiritose to the world is a big part of what I hope to achieve and I wake up every day hoping to learn, experience, and add value to the company at large. 

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favourite part of my job is the travelling. This has always been something I’m passionate about. I get the opportunity to visit new places, experiencing new environments, and interact with different people. I love new experiences and going on new and different adventures because I am an adventure junkie. I also love meeting new people who have different experiences, cultures, and stories from me. It’s an excellent opportunity for cultural exchange as interns and volunteers learn from me as much as I learn from them. 

What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?

I would tell my pre-travel self to brace herself because she’s going to travel, meet new people and have lots of fun. I would also tell her to prepare herself to learn a lot about responsible travel and how to interact with programme participants. 

What makes Tiritose special?

Tiritose is special because it provides programmes that respond to the challenges Zimbabwe is facing i.e. healthcare, conservation and innovation. We work towards improving the community and the environment by working with different organisations like Tree Knowers and Growers, where we donate funds towards the planting of trees that directly goes to help in reducing the carbon footprint of our programme participants. We are pretty special because we provide professionally rewarding internships, for example our Global Health interns who do their clinical rotations with us in Zimbabwe match with their first choice when they graduate medical school. 

Why should someone choose Tiritose over competitors?

We provide a wholesome experience to all our programme participants. We provide all the participants who come through Tiritose the best of both worlds. We allow them to experience different environments both urban and rural and they also get to more hands-on experience at their placement sites, where we measure the impact of their contribution. We also have a 100 percent proven safety record, and safety is the last thing interns and volunteers have to worry about when they come to Zimbabwe through Tiritose. Tiritose also guarantees organised flexibility during the placement. Interns and volunteers can enjoy their independence as we provide a balance between a set itinerary and room to shift things around to suit their interests, academic, and social needs. The tours allow for them to have time to explore and visit places otherwise not on the itinerary as per the requirements of the travellers. This is possible as the itineraries are developed collaboratively with the interns, faculty-led programme group leaders, or volunteers.                                                       

What do you hope participants take away from your programs?

Being a full-service provider, we want interns and faculty-led groups to achieve their academic goals first and foremost. Our goal is to match passion with purpose for our volunteers, which makes a lasting impact on the local community as well as on their own lives. Zimbabwe is a country of many contrasts and interns as well as faculty-led groups will take in the contagious calm friendliness of Zimbabweans, our resilience, and inventiveness in times of adversity. The Zimbabwe experience will change your entire perspective, worldview, and surely enhance your resume.  

Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?

It is important for people to travel and experience new cultures because It helps them understand how things are done in other parts of the world. This broadens one's perspective of the world and erases ignorance. Visiting new countries and cultures helps to shape one's character. You meet people at their level, which in most cases takes you out of your comfort zone and it is quite humbling.

What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?

To anyone wanting to travel I would tell them to go for it. I would tell them that it would be the experience of a lifetime and they should do It through Tiritose! I would also say they shouldn’t only travel to have fun but to have new experiences with purpose. They should experience the world in a way that allows them to learn more about how other sides of the world function everyday. I would also advise them to be as hands-on and participative as possible in all their endeavours. This would make it an even better experience with great stories for in the future. 

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Meaningful travel means travel that enriches your way of life. It's when you travel with a goal to take away something that will stay with you for life. It’s an experience where you learn a lot and possibly gain some educational or career experience. It’s about making an impact in the places that you visit and leaving meaningful footprints. It also entails supporting the local communities that you visit by either sharing your expertise or donating time and resources to help other people.