Posted: Tuesday 31 August 2010
Pupils on World Challenge Expedition to Borneo
Hutchesons' pupils have returned from a month-long expedition to Borneo, where they volunteered at an orphanage and assisted in the construction of the Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sabah.
Alongside pupils from Emanuel School in Battersea, London, the five pupils and staff member, Technology teacher Colin McCormick, travelled to the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo, the third largest island in the world, located north of Australia. In addition to their work on the bear complex and enclosur, they trekked through the jungle with local guides.
"I truthfully had one of the greatest times of my life," said S6 pupil Laurence Burns, who is now heading to Stirling University. "Working at the orphanage and bear sanctuary was a real eye-opener and filled me with great joy. I'm thankful to the staff for giving us this opportunity and for guiding us through our mistakes!"
"I am immensely proud of the way our pupils coped with the difficult situations they faced," said Colin McCormick. "They benefited from a wide range of new experiences from organising safe transport fcor a large group to washing their own clothes! Perhas the greatest lesson was learning to compromise when working with limited resources."
The expedition was organised by World Challenge, which provides educational expeditions in the developing world which foster team spirit and leadership skills.