Design for Future Living student Mia-Ming spent her summer in Bali, Indonesia, volunteering on a Wildlife and Environmental conservation programme with Plan My Gap Year.
“After volunteering in Bali for a month, I can truly say it has been the best experience of my life. The richness in culture, helping locals daily and exploring a new country so different to home was incredible.
I really enjoyed my time doing Wildlife and Environmental conservation, and it’s made me more mindful about the way we live our lives. Several hours of picking up single-use plastic on the beach has impacted the way I see plastic, and how its lifecycle doesn't end when we, as consumers, throw it away. It's made me more passionate about sustainable building practices, which I'm sure will influence my future projects at university.
I’ve made several friends from around the world and already made plans to go travelling with them in the future! I was able to connect with many open-minded people and lived with minimal possessions, which was a breath of fresh air after living in the UK for so long. This trip has given me the confidence to solo travel and explore and volunteer other countries!
My advice for others would be to leave at least a week after your volunteering/studying to explore the country! This really was a once in a lifetime experience. I would recommend to anyone and everyone!”
