Amy Melody
BA Criminology with Journalism 2013
Amy has always been passionate about giving others life chances and opportunities, supporting them to reach their potential.
During her final year at the University of Sunderland, the graduate won the International Humanitarian Outreach Worker of the Year award from the Mount Kilimanjaro First Aid Community Programme, and was runner up at the Positive Social Behaviour Order Awards in Newcastle for her Youth Leadership work.
Amy had her efforts recognised for helping local people to become more employable and confident in their abilities, and also visited Africa three times to help communities and children grow their own food and to teach basic life skills.
She is still involved with the Mount Kilimanjaro First Aid Community Programme where she currently sits of the Board of Trustees.
“I got involved with the organisation in my first year of university and shortly became a team leader. You'd often see us in the libraries holding bake sales to raise money for the outreach work we do in Africa. This experience was truly rewarding and added to my university experience as I came to know the University staff a lot better, for example the Students' Union was incredibly supportive.”
She adds: “I haven't been to Africa since graduating - something which has actually been really hard. I hope to go back and I still keep in touch with those over in Tanzania. But I am comforted by the fact that my colleagues go every year and carry on the outreach work.”
The 24-year-old also works as a PR Officer at The Sick Children’s Trust, a charity that supports specialist children’s hospitals. She is responsible to raise the profile of the charity with local, regional and national media.
Amy is proud to say that progressing to her actual position has been a big achievement for her but it also has been one of her main challenges.
“The work place is a lot different to university. Luckily, my lecturers at Sunderland provided me with the tools I needed to apply for my first job. Time management became essential when learning to cope with deadlines and targets, whilst doing volunteering job.
“The network of opportunity at the University is second to none, there is so much to get involved with, so many workshops, sessions, advisors you can go along to in order to boost your own skill set.”
She concludes: “The unity in the University was something that has really stuck with me, which is reflected in the city itself. It was a great experience, and if I could do it all over again, I would.”