30 Years on From Raleigh: Sophie reflects on her 1995 Belize Expedition

When Sophie did her Raleigh Expedition to Belize in 1995, she couldn’t have known that her Raleigh experience would shape her future and inspire her – almost 30 years later – to share her journey through a new book, Belize and Beyond.

Here, Sophie reflects on her time with Raleigh and shares the life lessons she gained along the way.

What took you on a Raleigh Expedition to Belize in 1995?

When I came to Raleigh I was in a job that wasn’t very fulfilling. During the Expedition I met people who inspired me to try something different and I started to grow in confidence, by stepping outside my comfort zone on a daily basis. Undertaking experiences that I would never have had the opportunity to do at home, or thought I had the ability to do.

The Expedition gave me a much wider view of the world as well as the confidence to think about what I might be capable of doing, when I got home. I decided to change my career in Hotel Management and move into youth development, where I could be part of the process of helping others to achieve their potential too. Helping young people to step out of their comfort zone and reach their full potential, just like Raleigh had done for me. I went straight home and started working with the Prince’s Trust supporting young people facing barriers to work and training. I am still working with young people, now in schools, supporting them with their mental wellbeing and confidence.

In your book Belize and Beyond, you mention overcoming self-imposed boundaries. How did your experience in Belize change your mindset about what you’re capable of?

I struggled at school because I’m dyslexic. I didn’t enjoy school as it was a real struggle. I came out of school worried about what I would do, as I hadn’t succeeded in education. But everyone I met on the Expedition had a completely different attitude. No one had done anything like an Expedition before. We were all in the same boat and we all had different skills, all of us had something to offer. The grades we had got at school didn’t matter in the rainforest. It was about teamwork and giving it a go. It was refreshing and really exciting. I realised that while I couldn’t do everything, there was so much I COULD do. It built my self-esteem and my self-worth, and I saw people around me experience the same.

Find out more: Raleigh Expeditions in South Africa, Borneo and Costa Rica

What inspired you to write Belize and Beyond?

I made some really good friends on the Expedition. 30 years later, we are still friends, in fact they’re my children’s godparents and we see each other a lot and talk about Belize all the time. So I thought about writing down my experiences for my kids.

My mother in law writes books and she kept saying that I should write my stories down, so I started writing the book about 10 years ago. I had a lot of self doubt when I was writing, but Raleigh taught me to give everything a go – so I just did it.

What was the most surprising thing you discovered about yourself during your time in Belize?

I think it was (without sounding too corny) what I got out of seeing other people thrive, which then redirected my whole career. Everyone has strengths and thankfully, everyone has different strengths. You can do so much as a group of people working together towards a common goal.

I also realized how much I enjoyed being outside my comfort zone. I thought going into a new job was brave, but it wasn’t compared to what we did on Raleigh. For example, living in a rainforest and learning skills in building – back in 1995 we even learned scuba diving. Being put outside your comfort zone and not worrying too much about how good you’re going to be, but just giving it a go, was really fun, liberating and exciting.

Read now: Raleigh International 2024 Impact Report

Do you have any advice for future Venturers?

Give it a go. Be open minded and open to new experiences, and be brave. Because you’ve just got to put yourself out there and give it a go. It’s so worth it. It’s hard work raising the money, but having to do that, made me value it even more because I had worked so hard to get there.

It challenges you in a way that gets the very best out of you, builds your confidence and self-esteem. It teaches you what you are capable of and how to support others around you to do the same, so you can go home and achieve so much more than you might have done otherwise . The expedition is an exciting adventure where you meet extraordinary people, learn to work in a team and rely on each other, builds confidence and resilience and is an unforgettable journey that is still very much part of my life today.

What advice would you give you young Venturers about fundraising for an Expedition?

I sold a lot of stuff in car boot sales. I did a lot of talks at local Rotary clubs. I wrote letters to hundreds of famous people and not famous people. You never know who will support you – the musicians Chrissy Hines and George Harrison sent money to me!

I would also advise future Venturers to talk to local organisations, Rotary clubs and local charities and get the word out that you would like sponsorship. Raleigh is an amazing organisation and it’s a great opportunity to talk to people about what Raleigh does and about the great work that you can do for the country that you’re in.

Looking back, how would you sum up your Raleigh International experience in one sentence?

It was life-changing, an adventure I will never stop being grateful for and it helped me find my purpose.