AFTER the stress of exams, only made worse by Googling “best ways to spend a year out” as procrastination, I was looking forward to spending time volunteering in Morocco.

I boarded a plane with a friend, not fully knowing what to expect, but I was not disappointed.

Marrakech is a beautiful city and the local people were so kind and generous. We were mainly working with children and the homeless so I spent a lot of time in orphanages, playing with street kids in parks, painting school buildings and feeding those who were not able to be at home to break their fast as we were visiting during Ramadan.

Everyone welcomed us and I was surprised by the uplifting attitudes of the children, despite mainly communicating with them in with my very poor knowldge of French!

I had raised money for the trip by selling cakes, doing car boot sales, finding sponsorship and waitressing as a part time job which made me value the experience even more.

I was also able to camel trek into the Sahara, visit Berber villages and swim in the tallest waterfalls in northern Africa on my days off so I really felt I had a taste of the country.

The people I met, both the British volunteers and the Moroccan coordinators and children, made me realise the benefits of sharing experiences with new people and I have gained many friends as a result.

I feel that collectively we were able to have a positive impact on the local community and this sense of purpose and fulfilment has encouraged me to apply to spend three months volunteering in Asia next year.

Like any new experience or independent adventure, volunteering can be a little daunting and it is frightening to take the first step.

You do not have to go around the world to help others and many issues still need to be addressed in England, but doing something for the benefit of others is so worthwhile and such a meaningful way to spend your time and money.

Whether it is becoming involved with the local community or immersing yourself in another country and culture, volunteering is a wonderful thing to do for both yourself and those you are helping.