This year marked the 10^th annual trip for Year 12 students to help at the charity Ripple Africa in Malawi which was founded by Old Aldenhamian Geoff Furber and his wife Liz some 16 years ago. Accompanied by four staff members, 20 students travelled to Ripple Africa’s base camp in Lowani where they joined in many of the projects ranging from the Tree Conservation project, the Disability Home Help project and helping with a research project about girls staying in school whilst menstruating.

There were many opportunities to engage with the locals of all ages through numerous sports matches, reading, painting the walls and teaching nursery rhymes to the children at the local primary schools. Experiencing an average day with a local pupil made everyone realise how fortunate they are. Happiness doesn’t come from what you have but from what you make of it.

At the end of a brilliant two weeks at Lowani beach, everyone moved on to rest and recuperate at South Luangwa National Park where they spotted four out of five of the Big Five on safari.

 Jemima Wax said “It was a complete culture shock but beautiful to connect with the students there through our similarities.” Toun Thompson agreed that it was “an amazing opportunity not to be missed.”