Reunited in Saint Lucia – Chessy Returns to UTS
Why I Chose to Return
After volunteering with my college for two weeks in South Africa with United Through Sport, I knew it was something I wanted to return to, and Saint Lucia was the perfect place to continue that journey. I wanted to continue to share my passion, meet new people who had similar interests, all whilst exploring a new culture and place, and that’s why I booked my 10-week trip to Saint Lucia. The organisation and friendly staff when I arrived assured me, I had made the right decision!
A Typical Day Volunteering
No days were ever the same but that’s what made it super exciting! Many days began with the UTS ‘Learn to Swim’ programme, where I was teaching around 35 school children the basics of swimming, with the aim of increasing their water confidence. The afternoons then involved older children who are involved in the competitive swim programme, focusing on perfecting technique to achieve excellence. Alongside the swimming programmes, I also joined the netball programme, assisting with the coaching of the afterschool sessions, as well as training with a local club. Each session focusing on the holistic development of the children, it was so great to see!
Building Friendships & Creating Memories
As well as all of the coaching it has been great to become friends with those likeminded people I had originally wanted to meet. We spend all of our time learning about and from each other and it’s a really nice environment to be a part of. As well as this, this opportunity allowed for us to create some of the best memories together, the boat party being a fan favourite within the group. there really is not a better feeling than living new experiences with new people, making core memories! I can’t wait to travel the globe to reconnect with friends I’ve made within this experience!
Extending My Stay
The thought of going home when I had planned really wasn’t an option for me, I wanted to stay with my friends and continue to work closely with the children at the aquatic centre, developing their skills and confidence in the water. Because of this, I decided to extend for over another month. 10 weeks wasn’t enough, I loved it there!
My Standout Moment
For me, my clear standout moment is when, after a few challenging weeks, I managed to get my 1-2-1 student to follow my structured learning plan and join back in with the normal session alongside five other students. It was my biggest accomplishment in my experience and something I look back on with a lot of pride. Every day I miss the bond that I created with not only my fellow volunteers, but the children too. They all really made my experience!
What I Learned & My Advice
Overall, I have learnt a lot about myself here in Saint Lucia, not only how I am able to adapt in different situations but also how important it is to stay open minded. To anyone thinking of booking a trip I would say, just put yourself out there! Confidence will be your best friend and allow you to get the most out of your experience, in and out of sessions!