Dawa Zangmo graduated from Pestalozzi in 2015 and returned to Bhutan for a gap year. She was a recipient of a scholarship provided by the University of Brighton specifically for Pestalozzi UK students. This year she graduated with a First Class degree in BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and is hoping to further her study in infectious diseases and specialise in tropical medicine.

‘Initially receiving a Pestalozzi Scholarship meant an opportunity to study abroad and having access to further scholarships to study at university. However, when I graduated from Pestalozzi, I realised that I returned home with more than just my initial goal; I was more compassionate and had learned to be tolerant of differences as I lived with people from other continents. After a gap year I secured a University of Brighton scholarship and studied BSc Hons Biomedical Science with a year long placement in the Virology Lab. I have recently graduated with first-class honours and I am working as a Biomedical Scientist in the Microbiology Department. I am currently working as a part of the COVID team and I think this is my way of giving back to the society who helped me get this far. I hope everyone continues to support Pestalozzi, because it really is an amazing organisation which can bring positive changes in different communities through education.’

Pestalozzi are immensely proud of Dawa’s achievements and the valuable contribution she is making to society. Due to the generosity of those who continue to believe in the transformative power of education we will continue to offer life changing opportunities to other young people like her.

‘Education opens so many doors for you. It is a privilege to be able to study as it’s not something many of the Pestalozzi students have the option to do back home and I can take the ideas I’ve learnt here back to Bhutan. I’ve realised a science degree has endless possibilities and doesn’t just mean you have to become a doctor. Pestalozzi has taught me to dream bigger and showed me that if there is a will there is a way’.