Koh Phi Phi Tsunami Relief Project

What did the activity involve?

During midterm break I went with 15 other student to Koh Phi Phi along with Cobham Hall (a school from England) to continue construction on a community centre for the local Sea Gypsy Village.

Some of us on the building site

What were my aims?

My objectives for the week were to put 100% effort into the work I was doing and to feel that I really helped make a difference in the lives of the local people. I also hoped to meet and interact with the students from Cobham Hall.During the week we were on the island we had to transport heavy sand bags, concrete blocks and pieces of wood from the beach up to the building site which was quite a long distance away. Once we’d finished moving all the materials we had to bend and tie metal wires together to create a foundation for the second floor of the building. All this work required a lot of physical effort and I therefore definitely feel that I tried my hardest and contributed to the construction of this community centre. Our aching muscles at the end of the week represented a sense of achievement. The tasks we carried out required a lot of team work and so during this time everyone was able to interact and meet with new people from the other school which had been one of my goals.

Me tying wires together

Were there any problems encountered along the way?

All the work during the week was very difficult as we were carrying heavy loads in very hot and sunny conditions. But since we were working as a team everyone felt that they had to try their best as to not let the rest of us down. Also since the building we were making wasn’t for us, but for people who really need it we all felt determined to try our very best.

All our new friends from Cobham Hall!

What have I learnt?

I thought the activity was a great learning experience and it truly meant a lot to me to be able to give back to my local community. We got to see the conditions that the locals lived in and it made me realize how lucky we really are. I have learnt to be more thankful for what I have as there are many people out there that are less fortunate than us.

A newspaper article about the project: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/kent/hi/front_page/newsid_8401000/8401700.stm

Koh Chang Adventure

A couple friends and I playing volleyball in the IDEALS center pool

What was the activity?

The Koh Chang Adventure involved spending three days at the school’s IDEALS centre on an island with all other IB students. We participated in various adventure activities throughout the week.

What were my aims?

My objectives for these three days were to step outside my comfort zone and to participate in at least one activity which I had never done before. I also wanted to participate in team building activities so I could get to know everyone better.

How did I attempt to achieve all of my goals?

While away on Koh Chang I did manage to meet all the objectives I had set for myself. I participated in a four hour trek which led straight through the jungles of Koh Chang to a small deserted beach. While we were trekking we had to cross muddy, rocky uneven terrain as well as several wide rivers with powerful currents. By the end of the journey all our legs were aching. There were times when I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to finish or not but all the support from my friends kept me going. Seeing as I had never done anything like this before I feel I can safely say I managed to step outside my comfort zone and push myself to the limit. I definitely took some risks during this trip and they all paid off. There were many games taking place at the centre which left time for team building so I feel that I managed to reach that goal too.

Why is it adventure?

This was my 5th year back to Koh Chang and once again my expectations weren’t let down. I thought the trip over all was a very valuable experience and everyday a new challenge awaited. All the adventurous activities really challenged all of us physically. Everyone also got to mingle with each other and meet new people so I think the whole team felt the experience was a success.

What have I learnt?

From this activity I learnt that if I really put my mind to something I can overcome a challenge. Such was the case with the jungle trek which at first seemed as though it was going to be too much of a challenge for me. Thanks to my determination and the support of my friends I was able to complete the trek and actually enjoyed the experience. Next time I am faced with a similar challenge I will know not to give up so easily and have more faith in myself.

Find out more about the IDEALS centre: http://www.ideals-centre.com/Welcome.html

Croston House Prep and Walk

What was the activity?

The Croston House Walk is a 15km sponsored walk where all the funds go towards the children at the Croston House. I participated in both the preparation for this event and in the actual walk itself.

Me on the walk!

What were my aims?

My objectives were to sell at least 30 t-shirts in the short amount of time we had, to get as many sponsors as possible, to spend time getting to know the Croston House kids and to help in making this event as successful as possible.

Some Regent's students on the walk

What did I do?

For the preparation I attended all the meetings where I managed to put forward my ideas for the event. I also stuck up posters around the school to advertise the walk and sold t-shirts at school during lunch times. On the day of the walk I had the chance to meet with all the kids and look after them for a while before the event commenced. Throughout the day I was given the task of looking after one of the girls from the Croston House and walk with her for the full 15km.
By the end of the day most people that signed up managed to complete the walk and all funds are now in the process of being collected. We managed to create a successful event in which many of our students participated. Personally from this experience I feel that I did contribute to the occasion as I helped fundraise and advertise. I also found time to mingle with the kids which was something I was really looking forward to. Seeing as I did manage to sell well over 30 t-shirts and collected a large amount of sponsorship money I feel I was very successful in reaching my goals.

Mr. Croston speaking to all our students before the walk

Were there any problems encountered along the way?

While I was looking after the Croston House kids I was a little nervous at first because I know very little Thai and they didn’t really know how to speak English. Even though there was this language difficulty, we did manage to communicate in other ways which has increased my confidence level immensely.

What have I gained?

I personally thought this was a very successful event as the whole school managed to raise a lot of money for a good cause and because everyone seemed to enjoy themselves on the day, including the children from the Croston House. Seeing the smiles on the kids faces really made all the hard work worth it and I will definitely be participating again next year. From the minor difficulty I came across during the walk I have learnt that two people don’t always need to speak the same language in order to communicate and that if there is a will there is a way. Next time I come across a similar problem I will know not to panic and I will feel more comfortable when I speak to people that I have never met before.

Find out more about Croston House: http://www.crostonhousechildrenshomethailand.org/