At freetobook, we believe that some of the most valuable learning happens when people step out of their comfort zone. 

Our customers know better than anyone that investing in people pays off. Whether it’s giving someone their first opportunity, helping a team member grow in confidence or supporting the next generation, those experiences often have a lasting impact, not just on the individual, but on everyone around them.  

It’s one of the reasons we love welcoming summer interns into our own team every year. Watching someone grow in confidence, develop new skills and discover what they’re capable of is incredibly rewarding.  

So, when we heard about the University of Glasgow’s FemEng Botswana International Project 2026, it felt like a natural fit.  

Rather than simply funding a trip, we had the opportunity to support an experience that would help shape the next generation of engineers while inspiring thousands of young people to consider careers they may have never thought possible.  

Investing in people 

FemEng is a student-led society at the University of Glasgow (just around the corner from our office!), working to empower women in engineering and tackle the gender imbalance within STEM.  

This summer, eight students travelled to Botswana for three weeks to deliver hands-on engineering workshops in schools across the country. Their goal was to encourage young people, especially girls, to see engineering as something they could pursue.  

The team visited 10 schools and reached more than 2,600 students, introducing them to engineering through fun, practical workshops covering everything from biomedical and civil engineering to product design and electronics.   

As one team member explained: 

“The project involved delivering workshops showcasing various engineering disciplines. A major impact was building on the students’ knowledge of what engineering is and showing them how widespread engineering is, and all the engineering careers which aligned with their own interests.” 

Their message throughout the project was simple: 

 “You can’t be what you can’t see.” 

By giving students the opportunity to meet young female engineers, the team helped challenge stereotypes and show that engineering is a career open to everyone. 

The experience didn’t just change the students they met 

While the workshops made a huge impact on the schools they visited, one thing really stood out to us when reading the team’s reflections: 

The experience shaped the University of Glasgow students just as much.  

Over three weeks, they learned to lead classrooms, adapt when things didn’t go to plan, overcome language barriers, work together under pressure and immerse themselves in a completely different culture. 

Those are experiences that simply cannot be taught in a lecture theatre. 

One student reflected: 

“Botswana taught me the importance of cultural sensitivity and avoiding simplistic assumptions… It reinforced the importance of considering local contexts and balancing environmental sustainability with social and economic realities.” 

Another summed it up perfectly:  

“The experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity to reach such a huge number of students and immerse ourselves in the amazing culture of Botswana.” 

That’s exactly why opportunities like this matter. They don’t just create future engineers; they create thoughtful, confident people who’ll go on to make a difference wherever their careers take them. 

Why this mattered to freetobook 

At freetobook, we’ve always believed in backing people with potential.  

Whether that’s giving students their first opportunity through our internship programme, helping our own team develop, or supporting initiatives that open doors for others. We’ve always believed that some of the most rewarding work comes from helping people realise what they’re capable of. 

For our Director, Iain, supporting this project also had a personal connection, making it a particularly meaningful partnership for freetobook: 

“It’s important that opportunities aren’t just open to everyone, but that everyone feels capable of seizing them.  

The lack of representation in STEM is well-known challenge, and this team of Glasgow students is a brilliant example of how we can help change that. They’re young, bright, enthusiastic and determined to inspire the next generation.   

Having spent time in Botswana myself I can see the impact they’ll have. I feel proud and fortunate that freetobook was able to play a small part in helping make it happen.”  

For us, sponsoring FemEng Botswana wasn’t about putting our name against a project.  

It was about helping create an opportunity that will stay with these students for the rest of their lives, while inspiring thousands of young people to imagine a future they may never have considered before. 

Thank you, FemEng 

A huge thank you to everyone involved in the FemEng Botswana 2026 project for having us play a small part in such an inspiring initiative. 

Reading your reflections, seeing the impact you’ve had and hearing about everything you experienced has been a reminder that investing in people is always worthwhile.  

We can’t wait to see where your engineering journeys take you next!