Venezuela
For a month, nine girls of Year 12 were thrown into an unknown territory in Venezuela, where dauntingly, only Spanish was spoken.
Despite this, we successfully managed to complete two community projects, the first of which was greatly appreciated by the local people of the Warao Indian Tribe. At this project we began to build the first classroom of their first school. As well as building, we enjoyed playing with the children. Our football skills were put to the ultimate test by barefooted children aged six to 10 years. We were then treated to a show of traditional songs and dances.
The next stop was the Jakera Project in Playa Colarado. Here we refurbished a playground to encourage children to play freely and allow them to avoid the influence of gangs and associated crimes. This was also a rewarding project and we valued being a part of it.
This was truly a life changing experience. Obviously we had time to relax with sun, sea and sand – what a hardship!

by Frankie Smith

Malawi
Our time working with the Chesney Trust was an incredible start to the African Experience. We arrived at Incongowele school in Mzuzu late in the evening after a long journey from Lilongwe and were greeted by an excited and friendly crowd. We felt extremely welcomed and greatly appreciated the huge amounts of hospitality – including the classroom and supplies of water (especially when we later found out how much effort it required!).
The project work was interesting and rewarding, and was a very memorable part of our trip . We engaged in tasks such as bush clearing, brick making and painted a maize mill house. We could not believe how much of the site we had cleared and we particularly liked using the slashers and machetes – tools which we would otherwise never have had the opportunity to experience! Technical support was on hand to make sure we used the tools safely and correctly.
We had lots of fun brick making! This involved stomping around knee deep in glorious mud to create the right consistency and then casting them into a mould. What an excuse to get dirty! We transformed the look of a maize mill house by painting it inside and out. If we needed another excuse to get dirty, this was it!
During the project, we made lots of new friends. 
Baxter, the Headteacher of the school, along with all of the teachers, and the community were so helpful and gave us so much to remember and treasure. Experiencing a traditional Malawian church service was definitely something we shall never forget - including our panic at having to sing! We thoroughly enjoyed listening to all of the wonderful choirs, along with the goodbye ceremony put on for us by the school children.
We had all this fun knowing that it was all in a very good cause. It was an honour and a pleasure being involved in the first stages of a school being built, and thanks to the Chesney Trust, we got that opportunity.   

by Chloe Collier