Are you booked to travel with us in the next few months? We need a few volunteers to help with a promotional video we are making about Gap Years. If you would be interested in helping out please contact me jamesc@campsinternational.co.uk.

Thanks James

Marketing Manager

About one year ago I was approached by a group of nurses who were keen to get out of their comfy practices and give their time to communities who really needed their help...and so our Healthcare Outreach Programme was born. Last week a group of 23 healthcare professionals (and a couple of chaps who wanted to tag along) flew out to Kenya for two weeks of sun, sea, sand and jiggers (Google it!) and halfway through their programme they seem to be having a whale of a time.  In their own words...

"[We are] having the most unbelievably amazing time! Hot, sweaty and knackered but enjoying being with some great people and seeing some extraordinary things. It's going to be hard to explain just what it's like here. Treating hundreds of people with a variety of hideous ailments and treating the dreaded "jiggers" in kids and some adults. 
Have ridden a camel and seen some elephants and monkeys so far. Two more days of work then beach day and then...Safari!" 

"Having amazing time, did clinic yesterday. We saw over 500 in 6 hours.... Off to a different village today to do it all over again. The organiser said it was a record!..."

"Another busy clinic today, going out to remote villages who haven't seen healthcare at all before. Lovely kids have smuggled a few!" 

"On our way back to camp now for shower and tea. Wormed 540 school kids! Searing heat! Nose looks like rudolf as so red!!...I love it here!!!"

Keep an eye out for more updates on what this incredible team have achieved during their short time in Africa

By Brian Collins

On Thursday 14^th July, 6 Winston Churchill students, Hannah Bracher, Katy Davidson (both 2010) Katie Slater, Joseph Gardiner, Felix Veale and Sam Crook (2011) and my good self all met in the staff room at 7 p.m to check, re-pack and then re-check our luggage again! We all agreed to meet at the school the following morning at 5.25 a.m. Of course there is always one who will be late, that one was me!! After months and months of saving and excitement for the students, the moment was finally here, and so off we went on an adventure that none of us would ever forget and probably never experience again.

When we arrived at Heathrow, we all didn’t know what to expect. We bashfully introduced ourselves to the other members of our travelling group of whom we were going to spend the next 4 weeks with. There were 16 other students from three other schools, Liskeard Community School, Cornwall, Sir John Colfox School, Dorset, and Winsford Academy, Cheshire.

After a long days travelling, which included a near traumatic experience at Nairobi Airport during our attempt not to miss our connecting flight to Mombasa, we arrived at our first campsite which was situated south of Mombasa in the holiday resort named Diani. It was 3.30 a.m! Here, we would spend the next 8 days. Diani was paradise!! Our campsite was situated approximately 100metres from the beach. Our main objective at this campsite was to complete our PADI Scuba Diving Certificate. Despite the fact we got to swim with fish in the Indian Ocean, the course was actually quite demanding but the students were fantastic in their persistence and all obtained their certificates. We took part in a little bit of community work while at Diani which included a beach clean up where our students along with students from a local school spent a number of hours cleaning a couple of local beaches.

On the 23^rd of July we departed Diani and made our way to our 2^nd resting spot which was Kaya. Although there was a slightly sombre mood leaving the paradise of Diani, the students were quite excited about the prospect of getting down to some work and fulfilling the experience they had come so far and waited so long for.

Kaya was very different to Diani. The campsite was very secluded in what could only be described as the African jungle. Here the use of ear plugs was essential at night time with the noise level of various different animals and creatures clamorous. The experience at Kaya was a real taste of life in Africa with the idea of having a 20 second shower and actually having to travel 2 km to physically freight the water for all uses were two among many examples. We were introduced to the community leader who conducted the project work with us. During our five day stay, we helped finish off the construction of a new community centre which included building the structure of the building as well as undertaking the process of Thatching, which involved gathering leaves from coconut trees and knitting them together to form adequate roof cover. We also conducted some forest clear out work which involved getting down and dirty with some machete cutting which as you can imagine excited the boys! Some students paid a visit to the local medical centre were they were truly astonished at how poor the facilities were. A very touching moment occurred when one of the Winston students, Joe Gardiner, paid for malaria treatment for a young boy no older than a few years.

Five days in Kaya past and so it was onto camp number three. It was just under a 2 hour hike through the country side and we were glad to get to the free flowing water and electricity assessable Makongeni!

 Makongeni was quite different to Kaya. It had a much bigger community and was also more developed (they even had an internet café!!). Here we again took part in community work which involved brick laying and desk making for the local school. We also helped build a new house for a family of ten whose house had been recently burnt down. This was a huge success and the students were extremely determined to finish the work before it was time to leave. It was also gave divulgence in to what life is like to live in a typical African household- a large mud house that is no bigger than your average sized living room at home. After the completion of the mud house, there was a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment among the students that would last for a long time after.

After Makongeni, we made the long journey north towards the wondrous Tsavo which was to be our last campsite. 

There is only one word to describe Tsavo- Magnificent!! When we took a left turn off the Mombasa highway, we literally entered the Tsavo country side, were within a few moments, we were spotting animals we had only ever seen in the zoo! This was to be the resting place for our last week of the trip. Despite being situated in the middle of the African wildlife play ground, we had a large amount of work to do. This included digging a water trench for a new water area for animals near the campsite. We also paid a visit to the local school were we helped build a new toilet area as well as help with the creation of new building bricks. We also got an insight into what life were like in the school, a school of which had a population of approximately 720 pupils, 350 or so desks and with a total of SIX teaching staff. Do the math and just imagine the class dynamics in those classrooms just with the sheer number of students. However what was quite striking was how willing and attentive all the students were. Some students walking a whole 5 km just to get to a classroom that would have one hundred or so other students. It really began to hit home just how lucky we really are and it took a while for it all to sink in. While at Tsavo, we also took part in the process of making Elephant dung paper!! Yes we actually had to physically handle and maul elephant manure in order to make what turned out to be quite interesting writing paper! On one of our last days we did a Safari trip through Tsavo East Wildlife Park were everything from lions to elephants and giraffes to zebras were seen. It was a truly outstanding way to finish of the whole expedition.

Our final night in Kenya was spent in the luxurious Aga Khan Academy School Mombasa, which made Winston and indeed 95% of schools in the UK look mediocre to say the least. And so on the 12^th of August, we departed for the riot stricken UK, tired, drained, under weight and slightly emotional, but the entire better for what was a truly breathtaking awe-inspiring journey that would remain with us until our graves and with friendships and relationships that would last a life- time. The six students who travelled, worked and excelled in all the challenges that faced them are an absolute credit to their school, their families and most importantly themselves.

Happy Feet

When the camp was told by Duncan that we had the chance to do some different community work I don’t think any of us were ready for what was in store. We met at the local school to treat children of all ages who were suffering with ‘jiggers’ on their feet which simply is brought on as a result of having no shoes to wear. This really left the majority of us speechless and some very emotional seeming though between us we own a vast amount of shoes, 1 person in particular admitting to owning hundreds!

The treatment consisted of firstly washing their feet with soap and water, trimming nails if necessary and that’s if they had any nails to begin with. Secondly, soaking their feet in fresh water mixed with potassium for 15minutes and finally rubbing lotion onto the ends of their toes. What took a lot of us by surprise was how patient the children were and considering their conditions how happy some were too. Although it isn’t possible for us to treat every child whilst we are out here it is so pleasing and rewarding that we have made some difference albeit a small one.

The experience was something we all instantly agreed would not be forgotten and can add to the long list of others we’ve shared as a group.

James  

Happy Feet

When the camp was told by Duncan that we had the chance to do some different community work I don’t think any of us were ready for what was in store. We met at the local school to treat children of all ages who were suffering with ‘jiggers’ on their feet which simply is brought on as a result of having no shoes to wear. This really left the majority of us speechless and some very emotional seeming though between us we own a vast amount of shoes, 1 person in particular admitting to owning hundreds!

The treatment consisted of firstly washing their feet with soap and water, trimming nails if necessary and that’s if they had any nails to begin with. Secondly, soaking their feet in fresh water mixed with potassium for 15minutes and finally rubbing lotion onto the ends of their toes. What took a lot of us by surprise was how patient the children were and considering their conditions how happy some were too. Although it isn’t possible for us to treat every child whilst we are out here it is so pleasing and rewarding that we have made some difference albeit a small one.

The experience was something we all instantly agreed would not be forgotten and can add to the long list of others we’ve shared as a group.

James  

Sam Crocker from Hardenhuish school wanted to let us know how much fun he had on his expedition to Borneo this year. 

His Mum wrote us a lovely card:

Hi CI team,

Firstly I would just like to say a huge thank you for putting together such a fantastic experience. My son Sam returned from Borneo with the Hardenhuish group last week and he has had a fabulous time. Your mix of challenges,opportunities to make a difference, out of this world experiences, and a bit of R&R made for a fabulous trip. Each day he remembers another story we haven't yet heard (the latest? - The night I was chased by dung beetles!!)and I know this is an experience he will remember for many many years to come.

If you can pass on our thanks to the team in country we would appreciate that.

And here is their press release:

FA National Coaching Scholar returns from Borneo

As Sam Crocker's year as a National Young Coaching Scholar with the English Football Association drew to an end his enthusiasm for volunteering took a different turn with a visit to the wilds of Borneo.

Having enjoyed his voluntary work within the UK and spurred on by the FA's recognition of his coaching work, Sam decided to take a summer out from revision and signed up for a month long expedition to Borneo. Organised by expedition specialists Camps International, the trip involved a fantastic mix of community projects and conservation work. Sam said "When I first got offered the opportunity to go, I couldn’t see any reason why I shouldn’t take the chance. It had community and wildlife conservation work, an immersion in a totally different culture and a few tough physical challenges; I just couldn’t refuse!” 

Amongst his fund-raising activities to pay for the trip Sam completed a sponsored climb of 273 ascents of his school climbing wall. This amounted to a total of 4095 metres, the height of Mount Kinabalu in Borneo. 

Whilst in-country, Sam spent time clearing rainforest and planting new trees, laying foundations for a community centre and building a gravity water feed system; projects that were designed to make a profound and lasting impact to disadvantaged communities in the Sabah region of Borneo.

In addition to his community work Sam did get time out for some well deserved R and R. As well as an ascent on East Asia's tallest mountain, Mount Kinabalu, Sam also had the opportunity to pit his football skills against some of the locals. Sam explains "One evening I managed to play with a team of local lads, they liked the look of me so I got invited back for the game against one of the rival villages and I scored the winner. From then on I was playing football every day, it was great for my fitness and was really fun too."

Sam returned from Borneo in mid-August in time to resume training with North Wilts Youth And Minor League Cup winners FC Chippenham in readiness for the start of the new season.  

Thanks so much Sam and Mrs Crocker we are very pleased by feedback like this and want to wish Sam well with his football action for the future.

We asked a few of our past travellers to comment on their Camps experience here's what they said:

The most amazing thing for me was to see what a difference I could make to a community... we went back to one of the schools we helped out at towards the end of our trip to give them some books that we had bought for them and check up on some of the work we had done at the start of our trip. Just seeing their faces light up when they saw us was the most incredible and exuberant feeling imaginable.
 The expedition gave me not only a second family with the people I went with (I'm still good friends with the ones I didn't know at the start) but a wider scene of what was going on around me. Since coming back from the expedition I have become a school house captain and the leadership skills developed in Tanzania have been invaluable to me. The expedition also helped me get a job as a Lifegaurd in a local pool as they were impressed that i had been able to not only raise the money but also been driven to make a difference.
In a way I don't want to recommend an expedition... purely for the selfish reason that I want to go back soo badly. Tanzania was the most fantastic month; it had it's ups and downs (namely toilets) but that's life. Being on a camps international expedition allows you to open your eyes and see another way of life that you have missed. Its not easy, but not for a millisecond would I regret any of it. The experience of Tanzania starts right from the moment when you think 'i wonder what Tanzania is like' of course then you go home and google it and you're hooked; everything about it draws you in. Its a once in a lifetime experience but it feels like a lifetime of its own, if that makes any scene. Its isolated and you learn to live with people who you have never met before. You also learn how to shower in a bucket and talk Swahili.   
 There was a girl in my tutor who had gone in a previous year and it was, seriously, all she talked about it. The massi, colors, language, people everything she could relate back to that time in Tanzania. But although it was exceptionally annoying i felt so jealous that she had got to do all these things that i desperately wanted to go... So i started researching into how I could get to go to Tanzania, i looked at loads of different companies but none of them offered what I wanted, a real diverse experience of Tanzania, not the tourist hot spots, real life. Then along came Camps. I had heard of it a couple times before when looking at various companies but never in detail. The real thing that made me choose Camps thought was an assembly given to my school year about what would be doing. The guy talking was so passionate and enthusiastic that it was hard even for the people who decided not to go to say they weren't envious. So that's what did it, for me i mean. I wanted to go with an organisation who felt as passionate about Tanzania as i felt.

Thanks Guys