I am an undergraduate Laidlaw scholar from the University of St Andrews in Scotland currently conducting my research project. My research focuses on Chinese environmental policy.
Hi! I'm Josie, a second-year student at the University of St Andrews. My research project focuses on Ireland's relationship with Spain, centring on its struggle to legitimise itself culturally, religiously, and historically in the face of colonialism, and how this led to the emergence of an Irish national consciousness. It focuses on the mythological origin stories of Ireland. As a student of both Medieval History and Spanish, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to combine two subjects I'm passionate about into a research project!
Hello, my name is Hannah Treagus, I'm a current 2nd year psychology student at The University of St Andrews. My research project titled "Exploring the Impact of Wellbeing Intervention Strategies on Master’s Students: Valuing the Student Voice" is focused on exploring and advocating for the underrepresented voice of postgraduate taught (PGT) students. I'll be working with a group of postgraduate students to create a student-led intervention that can hopefully be utilised globally as a wellbeing tool.
I have a significant interest in Educational Psychology but would love to connect with scholars of any discipline.
I also love travel, photography, baking and horse riding in my free time and am always up for a chat!
SOS Children’s Villages supports children who have lost or risk losing parental care by providing family-like care and strengthening vulnerable families to prevent separation. In South Africa, programmes include village-based care, foster care, and youth development, prioritising safety, education, and wellbeing through long-term, community-embedded support.
Responsibilities & Ideal Background
Work that connects Scholars with children and the local community where they can make a visible difference.
A good fit is someone compassionate, adaptable, and reliable, with experience (or strong interest) in youth work, psychology/social work, education, or community arts. You should be comfortable facilitating groups, diffusing conflict, maintaining boundaries, and adapting to resource-limited settings. Bonus skills include trauma-informed practice, play- or arts-based facilitation, and basic project coordination. The impact is direct and human, with lasting relationships and outcomes.
LiA Champions
Our LiA Champions are Helen Henwood and Youness Robert-Tahiri. Curious about this project but not sure where to start? They can share candid insights from their experiences—what the work involved, skills that proved useful, and pointers for exploring a good fit. Please contact them via the Laidlaw Scholars Network:
https://laidlawscholars.network/users/helen-henwood
https://laidlawscholars.network/users/youness-robert-tahiri
Organisation Contact
SOS Children’s Villages South Africa
Email: zama.mbele@sos.org.za