School friends Molly Garfoot, Klara Niklewicz and Shanley Scullion (pictured right), are taking part in a month-long educational expedition to Namibia, during the summer school break.

They are part of a team of eight A-level students who will undertake project work in Klein Aub Primary School, Rehoboth, Namibia. It is a challenging trip that will benefit the local community and will teach the teenagers valuable life skills such as leadership, communication and teamwork.

Tasks include improving the dining area of the children which is currently bricks for seats under a corrugated iron roof outside in the school grounds.

The team, led by an experienced expedition guide, will work from sunrise and do two shifts, resting during the hottest hours of the day. The students will manage themselves and their itinerary while the adult leader’s role is for safety and facilitation.

During the afternoons, they will be involved with sports, crafts and teaching activities, and will introduce playground games from the UK that they remember from their childhood.

Molly said, “We have been told that the children are very keen on football and netball, and will quickly join in any new games we introduce.

“I’m really looking forward to it after such a long build up though I’m a bit worried about the temperature for camping! It’s winter in Namibia now so although it’s 30 degrees during the day, it can drop to below freezing at night.”

The teenagers have raised thousands of pounds towards funding their trip, thanks to support from friends and family, sponsored walks, fundraising events, selling belongings on eBay, car washing, babysitting and generous sponsorship from Chiswick estate agent OliverFinn.

For the final part of the trip, the teens trek across mountains, desert and along the Skeleton Coast before returning to the UK in time for Autumn term and their final year of A levels.

Christian Harper said, “It’s a pleasure to support Chiswick teenagers doing the trip of a lifetime. It sounds fantastic and also pretty gruelling. I’m sure the experience will help them adapt to any situation in the future."

August 31, 2010