Leila’s Adventure to the UK
Date Posted: 23/08/2024
Leila has joined us from Morocco in Head Office for a 6-week intern programme. Here’s what she had to say about her experience…
“Education for All is an association that helps village girls in Morocco to complete their studies. Quite often, secondary education is not accessible to them due to a low number of schools outside of the main cities. The association was founded in 2007 and provides amazing opportunities for young girls, making their dream jobs that much more achievable and really driving home to importance of education. In the future I would love to be able to create my own foundation in which I can help people in a similar way.
It really is a great experience, focused not only on education but building great relationships and friendships that last a lifetime. The organisation has 6 buildings in different villages and each year they give 3 girls the opportunity to complete their studies at the British University in Casablanca, providing many activities during the school year.
This association made it possible for myself and 2 others to head over to the UK to partake in a 6-week intern programme and it truly has been one of the most wonderful experiences in my life! The streets in the UK are so clean and full of flowers, I always call it the green city. And of course, I can’t forget the kindness and hospitality we have been shown by everyone. The Hays Travel team have provided such a welcoming environment. We received a wonderful reception from the moment we arrived and have been given the chance to visit some beautiful places.
We spent a day in York where we visited the Harry Potter store, which was a dream come true since I love the movies! This weekend we are taking a trip to the capital, London, where we will visit the London Eye, the London Bridge, and enjoy some delicious afternoon tea. We also have plans to visit the lovely city of Durham where a lot of famous Harry Potter scenes are filmed, which is something I’m very excited to see.
We’ve tried so many different types of food from Chinese and Italians to Indians and more traditional British cuisine like fish & chips and burgers (which were my favourite).
One of my favourite memories of the trip is from our visit to the funfair. We decided to try one of the big, scary rides which was nerve-wracking at first, but I felt great after having given it a go! We’ve also put our bowling skills to the test with a few trips to the bowling alley which was super fun.
As for the work side of things, we met Irene Hays who was so friendly! I spent time in different departments, getting involved in work and tasks which expanded my knowledge of the business. The teams are so skilled and competent, each one of them is proficient in their work. They respect each other and help each other which was great to see.
My favourite departments to work in were social media and in a retail branch. Why did I enjoy being in branch? I love meeting new people and being able to chat with them. We had the chance to converse with lots of customers which I really enjoyed. A lot of them have been to Morocco and speak so highly of it, especially the food, architecture, and the good hospitality of the Moroccan people.
As for social media, I discovered this is something I love to do! This training has made me more confident in myself as I have learned many things that will develop my skills before my return to work in Morocco. Particularly in using Microsoft, TikTok and Instagram, as well as learning key things about a professional work environment. The Social Media team were so lovely too which really made all the difference in providing a happy environment.
A big thanks to each one of the Hays Travel teams for their help, and for giving us this incredible opportunity! Also, a special thanks to my family and friends who have always encouraged me to study, supported me in my decisions and helped me along the way."
