Young people are hungry to make an impact - Magdalena's experience on the Making a Difference programme
Oxford University master’s student Magdalena Voldrichova took part in the Making a Difference programme in Hilary term 2026. Here, she shares highlights from the experience, the project she worked on with Oxforshire charity My Life My Choice, and the skills she developed.
Magdalena's experience on the Making a Difference programme
'Making a Difference’ is a programme for students run by the Careers Service at the University of Oxford. It provides an insight into the people, challenges, and good practices for working in the business of charities, foundations, and social enterprises.
Across three interactive workshops, we had the privilege of learning about opportunities in the sector, legal and organisational structures, regulatory frameworks, brand value creation and its strengths, finance fundamentals, and the importance of good leadership and boards of trustees.
We heard from Colin Dyer from Leukaemia Care, Lynne Peabody from EY Foundation, and Anna Jay FRSA from Public Leaders Appointments.
I also experienced one of the most insightful panels with Jason Arthur (Mission 44), Claudia R Knights (Impetus), and Sayeh Ghanbari (EY Foundation) sharing personal and career stories that stayed with me.
We then set off to complete a team project, working with a client from the industry to put our newly gained knowledge to good use.
Our team worked with My Life My Choice on their Travel Buddy project. When we were given their client brief, we didn’t know where to start, as the problem was quite complex. But as my teammate Nelly put it, we chose depth over breadth. That focus led us to explore franchising models, consortium partnerships for funding applications, and ways to de-risk the scheme. We also developed resources that the charity could share with potential partners and collaborators. Working on something so meaningful was exciting, and it pushed me to grow.
The feedback we received from My Life My Choice was excellent and they noted that our work on the project has crystalised some of their thinking. As a result they are currently reaching out for potential partnerships to grow the project's impact and extend its benefits to people with learning disabilities across the UK.
I came to this programme for its practical element. I strengthened existing skills such as teamwork, decision-making, time management, and communication. I also built new ones in consulting, analytical thinking, and benchmarking. More than a CV line, the programme gave me real-world experience I can point to with confidence.
Being in a programme run by Rebecca Robins CMgr CCMI and Jonathan Black is truly something unforgettable. Rebecca’s energy carried every session, and her knowledge (and great taste in quotes) made each one genuinely enjoyable. Jonathan’s insights into the job industry, his opinions, and advice were invaluable, and I truly don’t think there is a better person to ask about the future trends in the job market.
A massive thank you goes to everyone behind the scenes of the Making a Difference programme, to My Life My Choice, and to my teammates. I am excited to use the connections I created and carry this forward.
Young people are hungry to make an impact. When that becomes a collective effort, that's when we'll start seeing the difference.
Magdalena Voldrichova - Making a Difference, Hilary term 2026
About the Making a Difference programme
Making a Difference is a University of Oxford Careers Service programme supporting students to build professional skills for purpose-led careers, with hands-on projects in charities and social enterprises.
Many Oxford students are keen to secure jobs that give them a sense of purpose and where they can make a real difference in the world and to people’s lives. This programme aims to provide the key skills, relevant experiences, a network of stimulating people working in the field, and insight into the career paths possible that together can provide that sense of purpose and impact.
