Rihanna's Adventures: How Fostering Supports Young People Into Adulthood

Rihanna's Work Experience Adventures Abroad

Foster care can provide young people with the stability, encouragement, and opportunities they need to thrive. For 18-year-old Rihanna, growing up in foster care and continuing to live with her foster carer through a Staying Put arrangement played a vital role in supporting her education and confidence. While studying animal care at college, Rihanna was given the opportunity to complete work experience abroad in the Czech Republic — an experience that has helped shape her future.

How studying animal care took me abroad - by Rihanna 

'I’m going to talk about an opportunity that I got whilst studying Animal Care at college.

I had the opportunity to do work experience abroad, in the Czech Republic.

I worked with lemurs, horses, alpacas, llama’s, donkeys and various birds of prey. I worked with Shetland ponies, getting the opportunity to work with them in-hand and I got to jump alongside them. I also got the chance to work with birds of prey, cleaning them out and providing them with fresh food. I also worked with donkey’s, llama’s and lemurs, getting the chance to groom them, clean them out and fed them.

I got to groom the horses, as well as plait their hair and I got to free school a horse called Gio. He loved the jumps we set up for him and he was such a sweet horse. I also visited horse breeding farms, and met some beautiful stallions and mares.

I also had the chance to experience how the colleges in the Czech Republic worked, as well as making new friends whilst I was there. I learnt how different the working day is (8am–2pm!).

I had the chance to also explore the local town and try local food. They were all delicious. I then visited the main city, Prague, and had a guided tour around. We visited a local castle and found out about the local history.

I then went to one of the best zoos in Europe, and walked around. The enclosures there were absolutely stunning!

If you get the chance to go away with school, I would recommend going. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity you will not regret.'

Want to learn more about fostering? Click here to find out more.