CLIMBING mountains and sleeping in hammocks were all in a day’s work when a group of students headed over to South East Asia on a charity trip this summer.
The six students from Carr Hill High School & Sixth Form Centre in Kirkham spent four weeks on an expedition through Thailand and Laos, facing physical challenges and carrying out voluntary work while they were there.
After arriving in the bustling city of Bangkok, the students headed north to carry out the first part of their trip, a six day trek through the mountains and jungle of Chiang Mai. The students were pushed to their limits trekking for up to six hours a day in the hot and humid heat.
Visiting villages along the way, the group spent their nights sleeping in hammocks or on the bamboo floor of a local’s house. Staying in villages with the local people gave students the opportunity to learn about different traditions and also gave them the chance to learn about how to cook a Thai meal.
Following on from the trek, the group made their way even further north, crossing the border into Laos – the country that had the most bombs dropped onto it during World War II. After travelling up to one of the biggest cities, Luang Prabang, the students spent a week living in a local village and carrying out a charity project.
In the village, the group spent their days helping to build a water sanitation system, creating a tap to give the village access to clean water. The students also spent time entertaining the village, playing with the children and teaching them the rules of English football!
Year 13 student, Lucy McGurrell, said: “The expedition was a life changing experience and the four weeks spent in those countries has made me want to see more of the world.
“Visiting villages like the one that we did in Laos, puts everything into perspective and even just making some of those children smile by giving them a cuddly toy is worth all the challenges that we faced.”
The trip was organised by World Challenge, who specialise in worldwide charity expeditions. The students spent 18 months fund raising and holding events, to raise over £21,000 to go on the expedition.
Miss Johnson, Communications Officer at Carr Hill accompanied the students on the trip.
She said: “We had a whirlwind four weeks and at times we all found it very difficult. It was an eye opening experience for the students, allowing them to explore different parts of the world and to experience life in a different culture.”
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An Experience of a Lifetime
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