Bethany Sexton Completes International Youth Work Placement in Fiji
Bethany Sexton, a BA Youth Work student from the Ҵý, recently completed an overseas placement in Fiji as part of a Youth Empowerment project with the charity ‘Think Pacific.’
The primary goal of her time abroad was to immerse herself in Fijian culture and gain valuable experience in international youth work. Bethany spent just over three weeks in a rural Fijian village, splitting her time between Nadi, Nananu in Ra, and also visiting Suva.
During her placement, Bethany’s main responsibilities revolved around community involvement. She worked closely with the local villagers, participating in 12 workshops and running two of them alongside her project team.
Bethany’s role involved being an active presence in the village, learning from the host family she stayed with. She said:
“We learned a lot about their culture and we spent time with younger members of their community, discussing what could be done to improve their community and how they could use their community space more effectively.”
Her contributions fostered a deeper connection with the local youth, encouraging them to consider meaningful initiatives for the future of their village.
Bethany believes her greatest achievement was staying fully engaged in the experience, regardless of the challenges. She gained both experience and insights that she intends to carry forward in her personal and professional life. One particular project that she felt was rewarding was working with the young people in the village of Nananu. She adds:
“We discussed some initiatives that would be plausible and beneficial to the village. This was important as they are a close-knit community, but they have a lovely, big community hall that could be used for more activities for personal and communal development.”
On a personal level, the placement allowed Bethany to reflect on her own strengths and areas for growth.
“I think it gave me a chance to evaluate what skills I have and where I need to improve, especially in social situations. It also gave me a chance to explore more into who I am and what qualities and personality traits create the person that I am now and what I would like to aspire to in the future.
“I think that my resilience and my patience has been strengthened due to taking part in this project.”
The experience has helped Bethany in relation to her UWTSD Youth Work course to realise how differently youth is considered in a practical and situation environment. She discovered that the age group of youth in Fiji is different, the responsibilities of youth are different, and what is expected of them is vastly different in many ways.
Culturally, Bethany adapted well to the Fijian way of life, finding it relatively easy to adjust to most norms. One of the most impactful aspects of the local culture for Bethany was the community’s faith-based way of life. She said:
“For me, being immersed in a heavily faith-based culture was a very positive experience. I learnt a lot from how they conduct themselves and how they live due to their faiths, beliefs and views.”
Hannah Clayton, UWTSD’s International Mobility Officer said:
“Opportunities like Bethany’s placement in Fiji with Think Pacific are invaluable for students, offering immersion in different cultures and hands-on experience in international youth work. These experiences broaden their understanding of global challenges while developing key skills like resilience, adaptability, and cultural awareness.
“Thanks to Taith funding, such opportunities are now more accessible, allowing more students to apply their academic learning in real-world settings and prepare for impactful careers.”
Looking ahead, Bethany believes this experience will significantly influence her future career in youth work, and it’s given her practical insights that she can apply to her academic pursuits.
Further Information
Lowri Thomas
Principal Communications and PR Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: lowri.thomas@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07449 998476