Craig with his work colleagues at ‘The Daily Voice’

By Craig Ferriman, Programme Advisor - Projects Abroad UK

I’m Craig Ferriman and the newest member of the UK office in Sussex on England’s beautiful South Coast. I’m here over the summer period in the UK recruitment team working on various things including the development of the Projects Abroad Groups website and will be attending many of the school and college fairs to attract interest in students thinking about volunteering abroad.

My association began with Projects Abroad about eighteen months ago when I booked to travel to South Africa as the first Journalism volunteer. I spent two months in South Africa’s mother city, Cape Town, and it was an incredibly life changing experience. My host family were victims of the oppressive apartheid regime and spent the majority of their lives in the grim Cape Flats saving up in the belief that they may one day be allowed to live where they chose. Their wish came true and they now live in a leafy, suburban part of Cape Town. The stories they told me were extraordinary. I spent my days with reporters on the province’s only tabloid – ‘The Daily Voice’ – covering all manner of hard news. I scooped a front page story and a double page exclusive in my time as well as twelve other articles. My notions about the ethics of Journalism were challenged and my writing style was honed but more than that my eyes were considerably opened to the corruption of Southern African politics and the extreme poverty with which so many Capetonians live in.

Craig ostrich riding

I was originally born in Newcastle but relocated to Southampton at the age of eleven and spent the duration of my secondary school there. I took a year out after school working and travelling (including my time in South Africa with Projects Abroad). When I returned from travelling to the UK, I started my first of three years at Queen Mary College, University of London doing a BA in English Literature.

Since last October I have been attending fairs and giving talks at schools, colleges and universities attracting attention and interest in volunteering with us overseas. It is my pleasure to be spending time in the UK office this summer with a friendly and warm group of individuals who have been most welcoming. No two days are ever the same with the Ghana and Bolivia Directors, Tom Davis and Daniela Viljoen having already passed through and Recruitment Directors, Tom Pastorius, Rob Levine and Frank Seidel joining us in the office. Who knows who’ll pop by next?