Saltus Students Fundraising For Nepal Expedition
Students at Saltus Grammar School are busy fundraising for a month-long trip to Nepal where they will help rebuild a school damaged in an earthquake which devastated much of the country.
Seven students are taking part in a World Challenge project which will see them spend seven days helping at school based in Kathmandu with the Mother Children’s Arts Foundation, 12 days hiking on the Annapurna trail and some rest and relaxation time taking in white water rafting and zip lining.
Teacher Rachael Smith, who is organizing the trip next summer, said: “We held a talk about the earthquake in Nepal this year and it was amazing how motivated they were to help.
“I wanted to get World Challenge involved at Saltus so I gave them a call and they sent someone down from Boston for a meeting. That is how it started.”
Aiden Smith, Tristan Narraway, Talia Colombi, Z’Ajae Lee, Mackenzie Pearman and Aaron Nelson. Wyatt Pfenning is also part of the team, but not pictured.
Mackenzie Pearman, 15, is one of the students taking part in the expedition and said: “This is a once in a lifetime experience. The trip is designed to give back to the community, but also to give us a lot of responsibility.
“We will be helping to rebuild the school, the classrooms, painting and generally trying to improve the school. It will be very hands-on.”
Fellow student Z’ajae Lee, 15, added: “I want to see how other people live and after the earthquake I wanted to go even more.”
The students each have to raise $7,500 and are busy with part-time jobs like supermarket grocery packing.
World Challenge is a student-lead educational travel organization that aims to help young people prepare for life. Every year it sends more than 10,000 students on expeditions around the world.
So excited for this team of kids, what an amazing experience they will have helping others and experiencing a new culture.