Students from ACS Cobham International School were recently put through their paces during a rigorous training exercise in Ashdown Forest, Surrey, as part of their preparation for a charity expedition to Namibia next summer.

The expedition will involve the students in community projects with local schools, including the renovation of school facilities and the building of additional school classrooms, dormitories and housing for teachers as part of ACS Cobham’s ongoing Namibia Project.

The pre-expedition trip was organised by World Challenge to help the 16 to 17-year-old students develop team skills and hone their physical fitness for the challenges ahead.

The 19-strong team, comprising eleven boys and eight girls, slept outdoors, learnt to cook using basic facilities and practiced working as a team.

They also faced physical challenges including hiking in full kit on both days and responding to practical survival scenarios.

The ACS Namibia Project has been supporting schools in Namibia since 1999, enabling students and the ACS community to participate in lasting partnerships creating brighter learning opportunities, whilst paving the way for ongoing aid.

By the time the team reaches Kutenhoas Primary School and Dr. Alpo Mbamba Senior School in Namibia next summer, they will have worked together for a year preparing and organising their trip.

According to Alex Bradshaw and Kate Penarski, Namibia Project Team Leaders, they will be well prepared and ready for the challenges ahead: “We feel very proud of the students’ determination for this trip. They are a proactive, ambitious and organised team and we’re confident they will make a big difference to the schools and communities they will be helping in Namibia.” The Namibia Project team will be continually fundraising throughout the year until their departure in 2017.

Based on information supplied by .