AFTER 20 years as an IT professional, Skipton's Esher Wignall, changed tack for a much more hands-on job.

The 43 year-old has been in Nyamwezi, Tanzania, with the sustainable development charity Raleigh International working on a water and sanitation project and promoting the importance of handwashing.

She said: “Our project aim was to construct a toilet block in the community which would include a disabled toilet and menstrual hygiene room.

"This will be used by the children and teachers at Nane Nane school, which previously had a dilapidated toilet block with no water facilities.

“Alongside this, myself and the other volunteers’ conducted handwashing lessons, which provided education for the students and teachers on the key themes of water and sanitation."

She would be sharing her experience with friends and family and urged people to take advantage of the life experience that volunteering and/or managing volunteers provided.

“I’m really enjoying my career break and taking the time to decide what I would like to get passionate about for my next career," she added.

Raleigh volunteers aged 17-24 and volunteer managers aged 25-75, work on long-term projects that address sustainable development goals and seek to end poverty in rural communities.

To find out more about Raleigh International or to apply, visit www.raleighinternational.org/expedition

Sunday, October 15, was Global Handwashing Day.