STUDENTS from a secondary school in Hampshire have been taking part in all kinds of fundraising activities in a bid to raise enough money to fund a trip to South Africa.
The teenagers, who all go to The Mountbatten School in Romsey, have been undertaking fundraising for the Pebbles Project for the last two years - and it's about to culminate with a 'trip of a lifetime'.
The Pebbles Project is a charity that aims to enable children from agricultural communities in the Western Cape of South Africa to reach their full potential. The school has had a strong connection to the charity since 2014.
The project enables children from farming communities to access quality education programmes, health, nutrition and social work services positively impacting their lives.
So far, the Romsey students have raised £6,585 across different events and are trying to reach £8,000. They will head off to South Africa on July 20 for 10 days to visit Stellenbosch Cape Town and see the charity's work in action.
Tom Robinson, a PE teacher at the school, organised the trip. He said: “These guys have got that personal connection and meet the children that they're directly impacting.”
Fixtures of football, rugby and netball will be organised and any spare kit will be brought over to gift.
Jack Fielder, a student at Mountbatten, said: “I want to do it as it will be good to go. It will be an eye opener. Everyone complains about what they have, but they haven’t seen the rural areas and what other kids go through.”
The students have been inventive in ways of raising money from running the Romsey Relay Marathon to filling Smarties tubes.
Student Sophie Fryratt did a 1,000m swim for each of the big five safari animals. Another Elsa Hunt, cycled around the Isle of Wight in under eight hours. Student Jess Scott did the relay race.
The group has three sponsors who have significantly helped with the kit - Blue Marine Travel, PBK squared, and Stephenson Group.
A blind auction is running until July 10 with a signed AFC Bournemouth shirt and a British and Irish Lions rugby shirt signed by some of the greatest players.
Mr Robinson said: “The whole premise of the tour is to give these students an experience. I want them to live and embrace every moment. It’s about letting go and enjoying every single second. It is a once in lifetime experience.”
- This article was written by Sophia Wale, from the University of Bournemouth.
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