Explore Stories

Young Scots volunteering abroad are the focus of this inspirational film, made through BBC Scotland's L.A.B project.

Sean Neilson spent three weeks in Thailand after winning funding from the Magnus Magnusson Foundation. He was working with children with a range of difficulties, including foetal alcohol syndrome and cerebral palsy; the condition which affected his younger brother Ryan who died aged 12.

Ben, Sean, Jamie and Laurie - all from Edinburgh - were among a collection of Scouts groups from across Scotland who went to Malawi to help build a water pipe system for the local maize mill. Their video diaries paint a picture of their personal journeys, the challenges they encountered and the people they met.

Making an impassioned plea for more people to get into volunteering, Sean Neilson says: 'It is amazing how when you give something back to other people that you feel more of a whole person yourself'.

The L.A.B - learn @ BBC Scotland - is part of BBC Scotland Learning Department and works with school and community groups around Scotland who want to develop their digital media skills.