We are grateful to Molly Diamond, a third-year Professional Policing Degree (PPD) student at UWE Bristol, for reflecting on her experience last August with the volunteering scheme Project Zulu.
The Professional Policing degree is a pre-join programme designed to prepare students for roles in the police and wider criminal justice sector after completing their studies. Project Zulu offers students from a range of disciplines the opportunity to volunteer in township schools in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
As part of the safeguarding project, Molly worked alongside two fellow UWE Bristol students from other programmes. During her time there, she delivered lessons to schoolchildren on safety and sexual harassment, presented at a conference for teachers, and discussed safeguarding strategies with school principals. Molly was a real asset to the project, and here she reflects on the experience and the impact it had on her.
Why I took part in Project Zulu
Project Zulu is an organisation that collaborates with various departments at UWE to provide educational support and resources to schools in South Africa. I applied knowing it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, even though I was also in the middle of my application to join the police specials. When I received an offer to start training, I had to make a difficult decision — the dates clashed with my trip to South Africa. Ultimately, I chose to turn down the offer, trusting that I could reapply later and that this trip was something I couldn’t miss.
Arriving in KwaZulu-Natal
Before leaving, I felt a mix of nerves, excitement, and anticipation. I expected to run a few sessions with the support of Tim, Matt, and the other girls who were offered a place Erin and Emily. I was anxious about flying solo for the first time and being far from family. Thankfully, the flights were smooth, and meeting the Project Zulu team immediately put me at ease.
Delivering safeguarding education
Working in the schools and leading conferences, workshops, and meetings was more manageable than I expected. I’m not someone who thrives on improvisation, and the first workshop tested me: our presentation failed, the children didn’t speak English, and we had 25 more students than planned. It was overwhelming, but with support from Matt, Tim, and the team, we adapted and restructured our workshops to better suit the classrooms.
Engaging with the teachers brought its own challenges, though the language barrier was less of an issue. One conference didn’t go as planned, but we made the most of it and sparked meaningful conversations about the issues children face.
What I learned from the experience
This trip has made me more confident, patient, and flexible. Working alongside Emily, Erin, Matt, and Tim was a privilege, and I’m deeply grateful for the experience. It was filled with hard work, early mornings, and moments of anxiety — but also laughter, growth, and unforgettable memories. If you are thinking of applying, I recommend you go for it, I will never forget this and had the best time ever.
Thank you, Molly, for sharing your experiences and for being such a positive representative of the UWE Bristol PPD programme.
Interested in the PPD at UWE Bristol?
UWE Bristol are regional pioneers of the national transformation in police education. If you would like to find out more about the Pre-join Degree in Professional Policing, you can follow this link
Editorial team
Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Claire Bowers (Senior Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer) and Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer).