From a Children’s Home to the Borneo Jungle and a New Career

A 19-year-old woman from Newcastle has started a new career in construction after completing a challenging 10-week expedition through the jungles of Borneo.

Milly spent part of her teenage years living in a children’s home. She later applied for a place on a Raleigh International expedition in Malaysia, an experience that would take her far outside her comfort zone and give her a new sense of confidence.

A Life-Changing Journey

During the expedition, Milly trekked through the Malaysian jungle, helped with community projects and spent time working at a wildlife sanctuary.

Some parts of the journey were extremely difficult. During one long trek, she reached a point where she wanted to give up and go home. But she continued with the group and eventually completed the expedition.

Being away from her phone also turned out to be an unexpected part of the experience. Instead of communicating through a screen, she found herself having conversations with people she had only recently met.

Milly said the experience helped her become more confident about speaking to others and expressing herself.

A New Beginning

After returning to Newcastle, Milly found work with construction company Robertson Construction.

She is now training in different construction roles at the site of the new Sir Bobby Robson Institute at Freeman Hospital.

The 19-year-old hopes to secure an apprenticeship and eventually become a joiner.

For Milly, the opportunity represents a major change from what she expected her future to look like when she left the care system.

Taking the Opportunity

Milly said she was grateful that someone was willing to give her a chance. She now wants to make the most of the opportunity and continue building a career in the industry.

Her journey from a children’s home to the jungles of Borneo and then into the construction industry shows how an unexpected opportunity can open a new chapter in a young person’s life.

Sources

• BBC News — “Care leaver finds dream job after jungle trek”
• Yahoo News — BBC report republished on October 1, 2026