YPI Scotland

The Wood Foundation’s Volunteering Overseas investment provides partial grant funding to individual young people from the North-east to volunteer with ethical, sustainable organisations overseas.

We were delighted to hear from Sean Doherty who recently returned from a six-week trip to Peru with EcoSwell where he worked with a team of engineers to design an energy distribution system.

Sean, who studies Electronic & Electrical Engineering at University of Strathclyde, said he learnt “what it really means to be an engineer” during his time in South America.

“It means not to have all the answers straight away, but to have the initiative to go about figuring them out,” he explained.

“Taking on a leadership role, despite feeling in over my head, and having no alternative but to rise to the occasion, was something I am very proud of, and it was a real confidence booster.

“My single proudest moment was fixing a system fault in the Talara medical post which was causing nightly blackouts.”

Alison MacLachlan, The Wood Foundation’s UK Director, said: “We are always excited to learn about the positive impact these opportunities have on young people, and we are delighted that Sean’s experience has been so impactful. There is no doubt that the ability to apply knowledge and skills in a real-world context is critical to developing the next generation of talented, contributing individuals.

“The opportunity to develop these skills in a foreign environment adds an extra layer of challenge, insight and growth. Over the last sixteen years many young volunteers supported by The Wood Foundation have returned to Scotland to share their experiences as active global citizens, inspiring others to be compassionate, ambitious, and outward-looking.”