Magazine 2019

101 Our 16 days spent in Nepal was a mosaic of adventure, community work, learning a new culture and engaging with fascinating people in unusual settings. We traversed this beautiful land from the frenetic streets of Kathmandu, with its hidden enclaves of environmentally friendly coffee shops, beautiful bookstores and world class climbing walls, to the tropical rain forests and the death defying peaks of the Annapurna Himalayas. All along the way, our experience was beauti- fully layered with our encounters with Nepalese people, who have dedicated their lives to improving the lives of their fellow man by uplifting the poor. Humble dedicated Sherpa guides helped us to trek into the “roof of the world”. Austere Buddhist monks living out their faith in monasteries provided us with a brief insight into a very spiritual people. For the community service project, the group worked at the Kevin Rohan Eco Memorial Foundation where they helped with gardening, teaching, cooking, making bracelets and building a road to access the new school being built. Despite the hard work, it was a touching experience for all our learners to work alongside people that give so much to uplift the community. For the adventure challenge, the group completed a five day hike on the foothills of the Annapurna mountains which took them up to Mardi Himal High Camp at an elevation of 3580 m.The views from the top of the mountain were absolutely spectacular and worth all the training that our learners did in preparation for the hike. The lead guide on the expedition also had our learners mesmerised with his humble accounts of his six successful summits of Mount Everest. What better adventure to end a trip like this, than to doWhiteWa- ter Rafting on the Trishuli River. Riding on the white water made us feel like conquerors on a quest. “I will never be able to forget this Nepal trip! It was such an adventure with such a vast group of people. It has taught me so many values, morals and life lessons I shall carry through the rest of my lifetime.” - Bianca Botha (Grade 11) “The tour to Nepal was life-changing! I got to experience a new culture, and challenge myself mentally and physically, by volunteer- ing at a Foundation and doing a 5 day hike. It is something that I will always cherish and never forget.” - Jaime Strydom (Grade 12) “It was a privilege and so much fun to accompany a group that came well prepared and totally embraced the World Challenge ethos of the expedition, both on the administrative and the adventure side!” - Team Leader, Fran Hunziker