Chiswick Community Students' Experience Of A Lifetime

Bolivian expedition will include a community house-building project

A group of 11 students who attend Chiswick Community School are to embark on a month long trip to Bolivia, South America this Summer.   This trip of a life time is part of a project run by World Challenge Expeditions and the group had the fortune to be allowed significant input into their trip's itinerary.  

Sam Flintham-Ward, a member of the group, told us, “On the trip, we will firstly have a few days to acclimatise to Bolivia - in terms of altitude and culture, as well as going on a number of shorter day treks around Santa Cruz (where we fly into).

The Community Project Phase of the trip will see us working for 5+ days with "Habitat for Humanity" which helps Bolivians construct new houses of their own. This will be hard labour work, but should be very interesting, as we will be integrated right into the community.

After that we will travel to La Paz, spend some time in the city, and prepare for our main trek, which peaks at the highest pass called the Sunchuli. The last two activities we have scheduled in are a trip on a small plane to Rurrenabaque for four nights and a visit Isla Del Sol for a night - a small island on Lake Titicaca,

During our trip we will all have to take it in turns being the leader, accountant, navigator, and a number of other roles.”

Apart from the physical and mental endurance required for the trip, the largest challenge of the project for the group is to raise the £3125 each required to pay for it all.   All group members are working hard doing various jobs to reach their fundraising goal whilst at the same time as preparing for exams.   

Although this sum covers all transport, food and insurance the group also has to buy their own kit and pay for a series of inoculations.

After months of hard graft babysitting, odd jobbing etc., Sam Flintham-Ward's final fundraising event is entitled Bolivian Painting Party.   Generously supported by Art4Fun, Sam has invited family and friends to pay a £15 donation for which they will get the chance to paint up their own piece of pottery, and enjoy nibbles and wine in good company.

All are welcome at this event which takes place at Art4Fun on the Chiswick High Road, Thursday 18th March @ 7.00pm.   Sam can be contacted at sam.flintham@ntlworld.com.

March 15, 2004