Beyond Borders: how one young woman is transforming a Tanzanian school, one story, song and smile at a time
At first glance, Camilla is just like any other teenager – juggling exams, stage performances, School productions, and leadership roles. But behind the scenes, this young change-maker is rewriting the narrative of what it means to lead, serve and create lasting global impact. Her project? Beyond Borders – a grassroots education initiative in rural Tanzania that fuses arts, empathy, infrastructure and education to empower children and communities. And she’s doing it all before even finishing School.
“It started with a single trip…”
The spark for Beyond Borders was ignited after a School outreach trip to Sierra Leone. “I’d done service projects before,” she recalls, “but something about that trip – the energy, the connection, the way we shared knowledge and learned from each other – I came back wanting to do more. But I couldn’t go back to Sierra Leone, so I just thought my ideas might be a pipe dream.”
So, when the Horizon Awards (a £500 award given by the Wellensian Association) opened for Pupils to to apply, she had a thought: What if I created my own project? Half Tanzanian by heritage, Camella already knew of schools in need. From that seed, Beyond Borders began to grow.
Reimagining education – with bread, beehives and storytelling
At its heart, Beyond Borders is about bringing education that goes beyond the classroom.
“Our core mission is to make education accessible, holistic and fun,” she says. “It’s not just about textbooks – it’s about teaching emotional intelligence, creativity and communication. Things we take for granted in places like Wells.”
This July, Camilla and her team will travel to Nyerere Kindergarten and Herdis Training Centre, a two days’ drive from Tanzania’s capital. There, they’ll spend a month teaching music, storytelling, and emotional literacy. “We’ll run cooking sessions, bake bread, teach skills that create independence and help children learn to share their voices – literally and metaphorically.”
But Beyond Borders isn’t stopping at workshops. The charity has already delivered tangible change: With success stories such as newly built beehives, funded uniforms, contributions to school fees for children who otherwise couldn’t attend, and building toilets and a water well – critical infrastructure many schools still lack.
“There’s a beautiful duality to the work,” she explains. “We’re supporting both the human structure – hearts and minds – and the physical structure of the school.”
Driven by heritage, anchored by family
The decision to focus on Tanzania wasn’t random. Camilla’s father is Tanzanian, and much of her extended family still lives there. One woman in particular – her aunt, Agnes Howett – has been instrumental.
“Agnes is the strongest person I know,” she says. “Years ago, her bus flipped on the way to see me, and she lost her arm. Something that may have hindered many but she had such an inner strength that she has since devoted her life to helping others. She’s my sounding board and my reality check – the bridge between cultures, my ideas and what’s actually possible.”
While Camilla’s Swahili may be a work in progress, the cultural connection runs deep. “It was the natural place to start. I’ve lived there, I understand the community, and I want to give back.”
Beyond privilege: what a sharpener taught her
One of the most poignant lessons came when they sent school supplies ahead of the trip. Among the items: simple pencil sharpeners. “The teachers didn’t know what they were,” she remembers. “We had to show them on a video call. It was humbling – that something so small, so basic to us, could be completely unknown.”
This moment sharpened more than pencils – it sharpened perspective. “We talk about privilege, but most of us don’t realise how rare ours is. We assume our way of living is the global norm. It’s not.”
She speaks candidly about the reality of inequality. “I could just as easily be my cousin, who, three years ago, in her 20s, learned to read and write because she needed work to support her family. Same family. Same blood. Different fate.”
The power of performance – and people
A Drama pupil and natural performer, Camilla admits that her confidence is often an act. “Honestly, my self-belief isn’t that strong. But I’ve always had people who believed in me – that’s made the biggest difference.”
From teachers to mentors, she credits a long list of staff at Wells Cathedral School for shaping her into the leader she is today. “Mr Ashton and his family – they lead with kindness. That’s who I want to be. Mrs Rowley, she’s been a rock. Ms Connock, Mr Bowen, Mr Salt – every one of them helped me believe I could make a difference.” This long list is testament to staff at Wells who really do help support and develop pupils to be the very best version of themselves.
From A levels to admin: building a charity from scratch
Starting Beyond Borders wasn’t easy. Between A levels, School productions, and life, she admits she was overwhelmed at times. “There were definitely moments where I thought, how will I do this? I didn’t even know where to start.”
From scheduling international Zoom calls across international time zones to sourcing funding and volunteers, every step required hustle. But her passion never wavered. “I knew it had to happen. So I made time for it.”
What’s next? In the short term, she hopes to return next summer and see how the school has grown. In five years, she wants the project to be self-sustaining, with local leadership, external funding (they’ve applied for a UN grant), and broader impact.
Oh – and to speak fluent Swahili.
The final word: “Even a smile can change the world”
If she could send one message to young people who feel they’re too small or too young to make a difference?
“Start small. Even a smile matters. There’s no age limit on kindness.”
And her advice on growing up and stepping into the world after her time at Wells? “Adulting terrifies me. Groceries, taxes, cars – having to do adult chores and tasks! But I’ve learned you don’t have to be fearless. You just have to care enough to try and always do it with a smile.”
And she has. Through Beyond Borders, Camilla has proved that one determined young adult, with a big heart, a brave idea, and an all around holistic education can bridge worlds – one story, song and smile at a time.
You can donate to the Beyond Borders GoFundMe here.
“It started with a single trip…”
The spark for Beyond Borders was ignited after a School outreach trip to Sierra Leone. “I’d done service projects before,” she recalls, “but something about that trip – the energy, the connection, the way we shared knowledge and learned from each other – I came back wanting to do more. But I couldn’t go back to Sierra Leone, so I just thought my ideas might be a pipe dream.”
So, when the Horizon Awards (a £500 award given by the Wellensian Association) opened for Pupils to to apply, she had a thought: What if I created my own project? Half Tanzanian by heritage, Camella already knew of schools in need. From that seed, Beyond Borders began to grow.
Reimagining education – with bread, beehives and storytelling
At its heart, Beyond Borders is about bringing education that goes beyond the classroom.
“Our core mission is to make education accessible, holistic and fun,” she says. “It’s not just about textbooks – it’s about teaching emotional intelligence, creativity and communication. Things we take for granted in places like Wells.”
This July, Camilla and her team will travel to Nyerere Kindergarten and Herdis Training Centre, a two days’ drive from Tanzania’s capital. There, they’ll spend a month teaching music, storytelling, and emotional literacy. “We’ll run cooking sessions, bake bread, teach skills that create independence and help children learn to share their voices – literally and metaphorically.”
But Beyond Borders isn’t stopping at workshops. The charity has already delivered tangible change: With success stories such as newly built beehives, funded uniforms, contributions to school fees for children who otherwise couldn’t attend, and building toilets and a water well – critical infrastructure many schools still lack.
“There’s a beautiful duality to the work,” she explains. “We’re supporting both the human structure – hearts and minds – and the physical structure of the school.”
Driven by heritage, anchored by family
The decision to focus on Tanzania wasn’t random. Camilla’s father is Tanzanian, and much of her extended family still lives there. One woman in particular – her aunt, Agnes Howett – has been instrumental.
“Agnes is the strongest person I know,” she says. “Years ago, her bus flipped on the way to see me, and she lost her arm. Something that may have hindered many but she had such an inner strength that she has since devoted her life to helping others. She’s my sounding board and my reality check – the bridge between cultures, my ideas and what’s actually possible.”
While Camilla’s Swahili may be a work in progress, the cultural connection runs deep. “It was the natural place to start. I’ve lived there, I understand the community, and I want to give back.”
Beyond privilege: what a sharpener taught her
One of the most poignant lessons came when they sent school supplies ahead of the trip. Among the items: simple pencil sharpeners. “The teachers didn’t know what they were,” she remembers. “We had to show them on a video call. It was humbling – that something so small, so basic to us, could be completely unknown.”
This moment sharpened more than pencils – it sharpened perspective. “We talk about privilege, but most of us don’t realise how rare ours is. We assume our way of living is the global norm. It’s not.”
She speaks candidly about the reality of inequality. “I could just as easily be my cousin, who, three years ago, in her 20s, learned to read and write because she needed work to support her family. Same family. Same blood. Different fate.”
The power of performance – and people
A Drama pupil and natural performer, Camilla admits that her confidence is often an act. “Honestly, my self-belief isn’t that strong. But I’ve always had people who believed in me – that’s made the biggest difference.”
From teachers to mentors, she credits a long list of staff at Wells Cathedral School for shaping her into the leader she is today. “Mr Ashton and his family – they lead with kindness. That’s who I want to be. Mrs Rowley, she’s been a rock. Ms Connock, Mr Bowen, Mr Salt – every one of them helped me believe I could make a difference.” This long list is testament to staff at Wells who really do help support and develop pupils to be the very best version of themselves.
From A levels to admin: building a charity from scratch
Starting Beyond Borders wasn’t easy. Between A levels, School productions, and life, she admits she was overwhelmed at times. “There were definitely moments where I thought, how will I do this? I didn’t even know where to start.”
From scheduling international Zoom calls across international time zones to sourcing funding and volunteers, every step required hustle. But her passion never wavered. “I knew it had to happen. So I made time for it.”
What’s next? In the short term, she hopes to return next summer and see how the school has grown. In five years, she wants the project to be self-sustaining, with local leadership, external funding (they’ve applied for a UN grant), and broader impact.
Oh – and to speak fluent Swahili.
The final word: “Even a smile can change the world”
If she could send one message to young people who feel they’re too small or too young to make a difference?
“Start small. Even a smile matters. There’s no age limit on kindness.”
And her advice on growing up and stepping into the world after her time at Wells? “Adulting terrifies me. Groceries, taxes, cars – having to do adult chores and tasks! But I’ve learned you don’t have to be fearless. You just have to care enough to try and always do it with a smile.”
And she has. Through Beyond Borders, Camilla has proved that one determined young adult, with a big heart, a brave idea, and an all around holistic education can bridge worlds – one story, song and smile at a time.
You can donate to the Beyond Borders GoFundMe here.
