Case Study
Two years in the planning
Take children on an expedition as Geoff Lockwood of St Bartholomew's School in Newbury, Berkshire, does every two years.
The expeditions run for four to five weeks and students pay for the trips. The destinations vary but have included South America, Ecuador, Peru, Pakistan, Tanzania, Borneo and Nepal.
'With the help of World Challenge they tell us what is feasible and reasonable,' said Lockwood. 'The children are usually backpacking and trekking. When we went to Pakistan there were 10 children and 25 porters but sometimes the kids carry all the kit themselves.
'It gives the kids the chance to get out of the country and get away from their parents. Communication skills and leadership skills are developed. They get to understand third world countries. They also have to manage a budget and organise the food and find out what to do, so they learn logistic skills as well. Students are running the expedition and staff are there as backup. It has an impact on people.'
If
schools can organise a week
away or longer, students begin
to see each other in a different
light. Not only do they make
new friends but also they
have to tolerate each other's
differences and sometimes
live in a foreign environment
such as tents. Experiencing
a different culture, food
and atmosphere can go a long
way to developing another
aspect to a child's education
- their communication and
social skills.
