Thanks Louisa for this brilliant shot of the team at the summit.
Having all reached the summit of Uhuru Peak on Kilimanjaro, Louisa, Steph, Katie, Niroj, Paul and Joanna are all now back in the UK. Their leader Richard managed to take time out from his beach work on the blissful island paradise of Lamu to send us these snaps of the climb...
The team, discovering the joys of African rain.
Read more...Some final words from some of this year's Kenya Summer Team, now relaxing at home...
From seeing Giraffe (Giraffes?) at the start of an excitement filled bus journey on the first day, to singing, dancing and working with Kamba communities to construct 4 whole Sanddams, and finally spending a fantastic last few days with the team camping in the wilderness and exploring Nairobi ... its been an EPIC trip. We've all become a close knit Teamo Wazimu and it will be sad to say goodbye. Many happy memories though, enda nessa! - Stu (Mutunga)
What an experience! I've had an amazing time in Kenya: working hard on site and learning new skills, speaking Kikamba and seeing African life from the "inside". It has been wonderful working with such fabulous people and making new friends. Without such hard work from everyone we'd never have broken the record and helped construct FOUR dams. My high was definitely playing with, and working alongside, the children. Wish it wouldn't end. - Heather (Mbinya)
After the most amazing 5 weeks it's going to be so sad to leave Kenya! There have been so many exciting experiences - dancing on the dam sites, singing on the bus and meeting the loveliest people, on the team and the locals that we have been working with. It's been hard work, but worth every second to see what we have achieved and with lots of happy memories. Go Questy Team 2011! - Elin (Kamene)
Our time in Kenya has been an amazing experience and we will all take many memories with us; from homestays with local families to mixing 238 cement bags in a day. There have been challenges along the way including language barriers and acclimatising to the pace of work, but everyone has worked well as a team and we will all be sad to leave each other. The realisation of how our work has helped with water security around Mtitto was a big high, especially seeing the children contributing to the work for their futures. Ni muvea muno - Claire (Mumbua)
Kenya has been the experience of a lifetime going far beyond any expectations. The work was constant and challenging but the atmosphere was a catalyst for persevering. The Quest leaders, team and kikamba people have been amazing, I am going home with great friendships and memories at heart. It has been a blessing to be able to help four communities within Mtito Andei, ensuring a sustainable supply of water. Nesa Nesa Nesa - (Grace Bithai)
A fantastic experience that won't be forgotten. Like everrr - Simeon (Mutinda)
We gave a dam... NO, we gave 4 dams!! Who knew that we would be able to change the lives of 4 communities in just 4 weeks? But we managed it and all thanks to all the people involved; the team, the leaders, ASDF and the local communities. We were welcomed into each community whole-heartedly, given Kikamba names, helped with our Kamba and welcomed into their homes during the home-stays. There is no better experience one can expect to have! It has changed my life but more importantly, it has changed the lives and blessed the communities with water security, especially those children who were helping us at the site. Casi Ondolai! - Radha (Kanini)
Coming to Kenya this summer was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I was able to make a difference and improve water security and make a group of new friends who I was able to share this experience with. The whole trip was absolutely fantastic with our evening at Carnivore providing the perfect ending to the trip - despite eating Ox testicles. Huge thanks to Quest for putting the trip on and to our team leaders for making the trip as good as it's been - I've had the time of my life (so far) - Hamish (Kioko)
I've come to think of Kenya as a second home this past month. The welcome the team was given by the African Sand Dam Foundation and the local communities we worked with was incredible. It has been an absolute privilege to work alongside such a fantastic team and I hope that the work we have completed will have a profound impact on improving the water security in the Kamba area. I feel like I now have a slight understanding of the difficulty those face without easy access to water. The inspiration I have gained from those working to combat this issue will remain with me and trust that the experience I have gained will help me to appreciate how important a resource water is and how lucky I am to have it on tap at home. - Paul (Mbatha)
I love Kenya. Kenya changed my life. - Peter Chong
Never ones to shy away from doing things differently, our Andean expedition team decided to visit the local communities of Lake Titicaca in Peru by kayak. Here are some photos of their journey.
They're getting close to the end of their epic adventure, the last update will be coming soon after they return from Machu Picchu.
Click here to find out how to join our Expedition team next summer in South America
Thanking Miki for this final update, received from the comfort and cold of the UK... nice one guys!
Steph Smith has a Tan!
At the start of the trip, we made friends
with a girl we liked to call Casper, the friendly ghost, an absolute babe, just
so pale slightly see through, while working the other day, I wiped the sweat
from my eyes... and couldn't see casper anywhere, instead a tall blonde beauty
with a slight cappuccino-like tan stood in her place. It was official, Casper
was no more, our Steph had a tan. Even on her neck...that after being washed a
number of times, was actually a tan and not dirt. Amazed.
These past two weeks have been absolutely crazy for us, hence the lack of a
blog. However, we really can't wait for you to read everything we've been up to.
Work-wise, we have completed all our set projects. Working with the Livingstone
Tanzania Trust using inspired development to help the locals with various different
forms of farming, we created 2 keyhole gardens at a primary and secondary school. We made several
bag gardens at another primary school, where we also designed and built a
prototype mud fridge, which we will find out soon whether it will actually work
which would be wonderful! We went fishing for Tilapia in the school pond, and
maybe did a spot of filming too. A group of us helped the farm hands to water
the farm and even help pick some vegetables!
Never have we had such a dutiful team with their blog updates, well done guys! With just a week to go for the intrepid Andean Expedition team, here is an account of their time in the Bolivian Amazon and Andes, enjoy!
Once upon a time on a sunny August day in Bolivia the Andean Expedition team embarked on a three hour 4x4 adventure to the Pampas, the outskirts of the largest rainforest in the world - Señor Amazon.
Read more...
