Adventure bound
NEWHAVEN College students are busily preparing for their month long expedition to Malawi in June this year.
World Challenge is a company that provides students with a challenging adventure to a third world country.
Students plan and lead their expedition which helps to expand their minds outside of the classroom and potentially go beyond the limits of their comfort zones.
Students raise the money for the trip themselves as this adds to the challenge. Students have been running sausage sizzles, market stalls and community events to raise the $7400 needed for the trip.
Newhaven College students were set to travel to Madagascar; however, the destination was changed a few weeks ago due to political unrest in the country. The unrest was anticipated to resolve after the election in December but armed robberies and cattle rustling have continued to take place; and the school did not want to put the students at risk.
The new destination for the trip is Malawi, Africa. Malawi lies landlocked between Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique and is often referred to as ‘the warm heart of Africa’.
“At first I was pretty upset about the change of destination but I’m pretty excited about it now. It still sounds really fun and I will still get the experience I was hoping for,” said Tarni Macdonald, a Year 10 student.
Two teams of 15 students will be taking part in the four week trip to Malawi. Both teams will be accompanied by a teacher from the school and an expedition leader from World Challenge.
After arriving in Malawi, teams will be given a few days to acclimatise to the new culture and climate before heading off on some of the most challenging treks that Malawi has to offer.
Currently students are looking to climb two of Malawi’s most famous mountains: Zomba Plateau and Mulanje Massif.
Mulanje Massif is home to the highest peak in Malawi which is known as the Sapwita peak and is 3002m high.
Teams will then be travelling to a local community to interact with the people and do hands on work in a form of construction.
“I am most looking forward to getting to experience a whole new culture. I am also looking forward to getting to spend a week in a small village, working on a project and hanging out with the locals,” Year 9 student Sianan Price said.
After the physical challenges of trekking and building, teams will head to Liwonde National Park where they will go on safari and will be given the opportunity to relax on the shores of Lake Malawi, the third largest lake in the world.
A great adventure is expected to be had by all participants.
- Lauren Adams is a Newhaven College student and will visit Malawi with her school group. She undertook work experience at The Star recently.
Welcome Aussies: village children in Malawi will be visited by Newhaven College students in June.
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