Journalism

Sandra Dudkiewicz

I’ve always believed that travel changes you, not just the places you visit, but the way you see the world and your place in it. As someone who loves to travel, I wanted to write a light-hearted but meaningful piece for this magazine to explore how visiting different countries can shift perspectives, build confidence, and open doors that once seemed closed. I discovered stories of young people in Ireland who’ve transformed their lives through travel many with the help of scholarships and initiatives aimed at breaking down financial and social barriers. This piece is about more than airports and passports, but it focuses on what happens when people get the chance to step outside their world and into something new. I hope it inspires others to explore and to know that opportunities are out there for them. 

Breaking Barriers: The Role of Travel in Shaping Young Lives and Careers

The article “Breaking Barriers: The Role of Travel in Shaping Young Lives and Careers” by Sandra Dudkiewicz explores how travel particularly supported by educational scholarships can transform the lives and futures of young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. At its core, the piece challenges readers to consider whether travel is a privilege or a right and argues that access to travel can significantly shape career paths, self-confidence, and global awareness. 

Central to the story is the work of The Ireland Funds, network that supports access to education and travel through scholarships like the “No Mind Left Behind” initiative. This program specifically targets students from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, helping them participate in transformative opportunities such as Erasmus exchanges and short-term educational trips abroad. 

The article features testimonials that illustrate the powerful impact of such access. Sarah Doyeni, a 22-year-old finance student, shares how receiving a scholarship opened up her world. She describes how it helped her move around Ireland and travel abroad without worrying about finances, allowing her to engage more in her education and future career planning. Vilte Jankunaite CEO of Balanced Hearts also shared her story in the piece as her transformative experience began with a trip to Bali in 2020. The journey had led her to build a successful yoga business in Ireland. 

The story also touches on broader themes, such as the importance of equity in travel opportunities and the long-term benefits of international exposure on students' personal and professional lives. It acknowledges that many young people in Ireland still face barriers to travel financial, institutional, or geographic and highlights the need for opportunities and ones that are already available. 

Whether students go abroad for education, volunteer work, or cultural discovery, they often return with a broadened worldview, improved confidence, and a stronger sense of direction.