A hundred and twenty-eight Kingsley girls have now taken part in World Challenge expeditions and the Kingsley logo is painted on the walls of schools in Burua (Indian Himalayas), Okakuejo (Namibia), Andyhuillias (Peru) and Las Mananitas (Guatemala). Preparation and fundraising are well under way for the sixth expedition, to Cambodia and Thailand, which will take place in summer 2007. Rebecca Slinn, L6, reports:

With only seven months left before our departure, the Kingsley world challenge team is working hard to raise the final funds required for our expedition.  We have organised a number of fundraising events, including a Valentine’s Ball, Thai nights at a restaurant, sponsored sports races and various parties, as well as holding cake sales, selling Christmas cards, bag-packing in supermarkets etc. We hope that as many people as possible will support us - any help with donations and/or fundraising would be extremely welcome.

We are also working to achieve the level of fitness required for the demanding trek next year, taking part in a weekend of fitness training and team-building in Buxton in September, which included a hard trek over the Derbyshire hills. This was a truly enjoyable and motivational weekend, which gave us a chance to bond, work together, learn new skills and become more independent	.

A meeting with the expedition team leaders was held recently to give us an insight into what to expect on our expedition and we hold frequent meetings to finalise the trek itinerary, organise new fundraising events and research charity work activities that we may be able to carry out in Cambodia. It’s very hectic, but we’re on track – Thailand and Cambodia, here we come!

To read more about the world challenge organisation, click here: http://www.world-challenge.co.uk/programmes_tc.asp