About Theodora 

My story begins as a tender 13-year-old who was taken out of school for full-time work. Although prior to that, I was that nerd at school, the one who got bullied and who attended homework club after school had ended. I loved learning, and ultimately, I had a deep desire to become an educated person who could live independently, without having to rely on anyone else. At age 16 I found my opportunity in Dentistry, and never ever did I consider this as a profession for myself. I had no idea what I wanted to do, I was made to believe I couldn't do anything, but all I knew was that I wanted to learn in a role, a role that would give me an opportunity to grow. So when there was an offer between training as a Dental Nurse, or going to Heathrow airport to clean aeroplanes, I jumped at the opportunity of teeth.

 20 years on, and one may say I went above and beyond. I continued to study to become a Dental Therapist and from there became an international lecturer, project manager for an international company, and co-developer of digital behaviour change apps and education in oral health. Following my mental health struggles throughout life, and a growing curiosity in humans as a whole, I decided to return to university in 2020 to study at a master's level, psychology and neuroscience in mental health. The course had completely riveted me; however, something was missing for me, and that was the practical, real-life side to the theory. So I decided to put into practice some real-life field work, to learn and observe humans, their behaviour and emotions, but I decided to stretch myself further and complete this practical element of learning beyond safe and sterile England.

I reached out to some contacts around the world, asking if I could support with some form of 'work experience', apprenticeship or volunteering over a longer and more immersive duration of time. An offer came back, from an NGO in a country called Nicaragua. My first reaction was, Where is it, and how do you say it again? But in my heart, there was an Instant YES. I knew in that moment that is where I am going, although I had no idea how or anything about this country and the people who lived there. I had decided that although my intentions were to learn, I also wanted to share the expertise and knowledge I had, in some way, giving back and supporting those who could benefit from it while I was there. Little did I know that those whom I thought I could teach were about to become my greatest teachers to date, and that my life was about to change in ways unimaginable. One may say the rest is history, but the story has really only just begun.

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