More photos from Welling Schools Tour of Zambia 2011

Welling Zambia Safari & Falls Link

More Photos from the Welling School Zambia Tour 2011

Welling Zambia Photos Link

Wednesday 20th July - The Final Day

This morning we travelled back to Lusaka from Livingstone. Its amazing how much quicker a journey is when your bus doesn't break down!!!!

When we returned to Baobab School, everyone had some time to refresh themselves and pack their bags.

Just before we went out for our final meal in the evening, the Welling Team met up together for one last meeting. It was an opportunity for the Staff to praise the fantastic achievements of the Students and the legacy they will leave with the hundreds of children in and around Lusaka. It was a chance to reflect on what was an unforgettable time in an amazing part of the world. Emotions were high and it was obvious to all that our time in Zambia had affected us all in some way.

There was only one thing left to do after our meeting...The Chicken Dance! Both Mrs Killington and Nathalie (a Volunteer who worked with us) worked with the hundreds of younger Zambian children who were unable to take part in our Tag Rugby coaching. They were fantastic at ensuring that these Children also had a fun time and one of their favourite activities was the 'Chicken Dance' which was a simple song with actions. The perfect way to end a wonderful Tour.



It was then off to 'Chit-Chats', a local restaurant owned by a Sponsor of our tour. Nothing unusual on the menu apart from fantastic food. All the Team were also given their certificates for achieving their Basic Tag Rugby Coaching Award which was run by Mr Robinson from Hurstmere before they came to Zambia.

So, we have come to the end of our Tour of Zambia 2011 and what an experience it has been. From the days of coaching the happiest children, to our visit to the Victoria Falls, it has been a roller coaster of emotions.

The Welling Students have been so instrumental in ensuring that we will not forget what happened here. Their interaction with the children, their dedication and enthusiasm has been a joy to witness; a real credit to their Families. We have watched them display skills and attributes we never knew they had, and grow into young adults before our eyes. It was a very humbling experience for the Staff.

There are many people whose efforts have ensured that the Tour has been a success and we would like to give our thanks:-

Trevor Martingell from the TRT for all his efforts and co-operation.

Mark Robinson from Hurstmere School.

Huw and Celi, our Tour Leaders from the TRT who have been fantastic from day one. Celi was also the official photographer and has taken some outstanding photos of the group which will be displayed on the Blog when we return to the UK.

Nathalie and James Emmerson who came along as Volunteers but were immediately adopted by the Welling Team.

John, the Deputy Head of Baobab School and all his Staff , including his son David.

The fantastic schools here in Zambia who have welcomed us with open arms.

The Staff and Pupils from Welling School who have assisted us on our long journey.

Our Head Teacher, Diane Khanna, and our Deputy Head Teacher, Jenni Tyler Maher who have given the Welling pupils the opportunity of this life changing experience and supported us from the beginning.

A huge Thank You to the Parents and Families of our Welling Team who have worked through tough times during our fundraising to enable their children to have this amazing time.

To everyone who has supported us along the way.

THANK YOU

Please keep your eyes on this Blog as there will be more photographs and videos added once we return to the UK.

We are all now looking forward to being back at home tomorrow.

Goodbye Zambia. We will never forget you.

Please click on the link below to see all the photos from Wednesday 20th July

All the photos from Wednesday 20th July





Tuesday 19th July - Helicopter Flight over Victoria Falls

Over the last week and a half, the Team have gone through so many different experiences and emotions that we didn't think there were any more out there. Today, some of the Team experienced the sensation of a helicopter flight over the Victoria Falls.

The Welling Team went up in groups of 3 or 4 and each flight took around 15 minutes.

The flight took us over and around the Falls three times as well as the surrounding area.

The flight also took us over one of the National Parks and some of the groups were able to see herds of elephants and buffalo as well as a number of other wild animals.

The Falls were an awesome sight from the ground but from the air, we could see how enormous they were. It was another experience we will never forget.

Please click on the link below to see all the photos from Tuesday 19th July.

All the photos from Tuesday 19th July

Monday 18th July - Safari & Victoria Falls

 Livingstone seems like a different world to the villages around Lusaka. It is far more built up and it relies heavily on tourism.
Today, we were tourists! We had to be up and ready for 6am to board the bus that would take us to the Safari. It was absolutely freezing! Probably around 3 or 4 degrees. When the Sun is up it reaches up to 30 degrees, but when it sets, the thermals have to come out.
Most of us were inappropriately dressed for the activity; flip flops, t-shirts etc. so we were already freezing when we arrived. We sat on an open truck so when it moved, we were hit by the cruelest wind chill.
When we were able to lift our heads we saw Impala, Zebra and Warthog but we were all speechless when the truck had to stop as our path had been blocked by a huge elephant. To be so close to such an animal was frightening but incredible. Our guide told us that it may 'mock' charge but to not be afraid. Easier said than done!

We also managed to see hippos, giraffe and a crocodile. A cold but wonderful start to the day.

Once we managed to thaw out we headed towards the Victoria Falls. We were told not to worry too much about waterproofs as everything would get soaked. We did our best to dress up accordingly to keep everything dry, but they were right! We were drenched within minutes. Luckily, the Sun was up and it became warmer so it didn't matter too much.

It is very hard to explain the sight of the Falls. They are absolutely mind blowing and many of us were rooted to the spot, just staring at the most awesome sight (and getting soaked too!). The sound, the power of the water crashing all around us justified why it is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was sight we will never forget.

After catching our breathe, we stood in the car park to dry off wait for our ride back to 'Fawlty Towers'. A couple of us had a snack or a drink, not realising that the local Baboons were also hungry and thirsty. The moment George took a banana out of his bag, a huge baboon ran towards him and grabbed it. He then sat right in front of us whilst he ate it and taunted George about missing out on his Brunch.

We returned to our accommodation where we enjoyed a bit of free time before the Team were treated to a Zambian meal at a local restaurant. On the menu was chicken, potatoes, curry and...crocodile, which everyone seemed to enjoy. School Dinner will never be the same again!


Tomorrow we will experience a different view of the Victoria Falls, from the air in a helicopter.

Please click on the link below to view all the photos from Monday 18th July
All the photos from Monday 18th July





Sunday 17th July - Arrival in Livingstone

We thought yesterday was a long day but today wins hands down!
After quickly packing our essentials in the morning, we jumped onto the bus to Livingstone. Two hours into the journey, it was becoming obvious that the bus was reluctant to go any further. We eventually made it to a town where we were told that the bus had an electrical fault and that a replacement was on its way from Lusaka and would take an hour to arrive. We've come to understand that an hour in Zambia is not the same length as an English hour. About 3 (English) hours later, our bus arrived and we continued our journey arriving at Fawlty Towers at 6.15pm. We had been on the bus for over 9 hours but spirits remained high.
Fawlty Towers is a world away from where we had been last week and everyone was really pleased and looked forward to the next few days.
To celebrate our arrival, we ordered take-away pizza and then took it in turns to beat Mr Shears at Pool.
Tomorrow we are leaving at 6am to head for the Safari and on to the Victoria Falls.

Sunday 17th July - Travelling down to Livingstone

It is a beautiful morning, and it is warm! After a fantastic bbq last night, the Team are preparing for the long trek to Livingstone by bus. It should take around 6 hours so hopefully the roads are a bit better than the ones we have used to travel to the local villages.

When in Livingstone, we will be staying at a central Youth Hostel ironically named 'Fawlty Towers'. We are looking forward to meeting Zambia's version of 'Basil' and 'Manuel' as well as visiting one of the Wonders of the World, The Victoria Falls.

In the meantime, the Internet is up and running so all the photos have been updated. Please click on the link below to see all the photos from a very special Saturday 16th July.

All the photos from Saturday 16th July

PS Apologies for the spelling mistake from the last Post. It was a long day!!!!!!!!

All the Photos from Saturday 16th July

Please click on the link to see all the photos from Saturday 16th July. Well done the Welling Team. We are very proud of you.
All the photos from Saturday 16th July

PS. This is not ALL the photos. Will upload as soon as the Internet is up and running as normal.

Saturday 16th July - Tournament Day

Today was an amazing experience. All the teams efforts during the week culminated in a final Tag Rugby Tournament today.
It was held at a local school and the organisation began at 7am when a small party went over to mark the pitches.
All the Welling Team were given roles for the day:-
Team Managers:- Grant Godbold - Mount Mukulu
                                Charlie Ashby - Mount Mukulu
                                Joe Woollard - St Patricks
                                Hannah Beresford - St Patricks
                                Peter Huxstep - Zocs
                                Harry Young - Zocs
                                James Asbury - Referee
                                George Burke - Tournament Manager
                                Abi Granger - Tournament Manager
                                Rebecca Bushell - Organiser
It was the most memorable day. Lots of supporters, fantastic Tag Rugby, and very emotional 'goodbyes' at the end.
Everybody can be really proud of these Welling students. They have changed the lives of many Zambian children, who will never forget this extraordinary week, and day.
It was Grant Godbolds team that were overall winners after a pulsating final. To say that he was overjoyed at winning is an undestatement.
It is very difficult to describe the effect of the Tournament so we will let the pictures do the talking today.
Tonight, we are having a well earned celebratory BBQ. Tomorrow morning, we head off to new adventures in Livingtone.
Watch this space!
Apologies, but we seem to be having problems with the Internet in Africa tonight. As soon as we can, we will post some amazing photos of what the Welling Team have achieved and the legacy they will leave with some of the poorest pupils in Zambia.
Please check to see if we have been successful!

Link for all the photos from Saturday 9th July

Please click on the link below for all the photos from Saturday 9th July.

All the Photos from Saturday 9th July

Friday 15th July - Final Day of Coaching

Our final day of coaching and emotions were running high. The school teams for Saturday's Tournament had to be chosen today so it was a day of difficult decisions.

Those who were chosen were euphoric! Many told us that it was the greatest moment in their lives. Those who did not make the cut were obviously upset but the Welling Team worked tirelessly to ensure that the final coaching session was made special for them.

Tonight, the Welling Team are working hard in preparation for the Tournament that they have worked towards all week. It will be an early night for all tonight as its an early (ridiculously early!) start tomorrow. However, it will be a very special, exciting and emotional end to a memorable week.

Please click on the link below to see all the photos for Friday 15th July.

All the photos from Friday 15th July

Thursday 14th July - Coaching Day 4

Everything now is focused towards the Tournament on Saturday. The schools (especially the Head Teachers) are becoming very excited as for many of them, it is the highlight of their year. All the Welling Team have been allocated a role ranging from Team Manager to Referee. Rebecca is in charge of organising the Pools and order of events for the whole day.
The coaching sessions were dedicated to finding two teams of ten players from each school.

At the end of the day, the Girls and Boys from Welling and Hurstmere mixed up and made two teams to have a practice Tag Rugby Game to be sure of the rules etc. and to have a bit of fun!

Please click on the link below to see all the photos from Thursday 14th July. You can also write comments for the Team to see too!

All the photos from Thursday 14th July

Wednesday 13th July - Coaching Day 3

A tough day today. Many of the Team found themselves low on energy due to the efforts of the last few days. The coaching has become more intense as on Saturday they will be organising a large Tag Rugby tournament to be held at one of the schools. The Team will be in charge of everything from managing the school teams to marking the pitches on the grass. It means that over the next few days, they will have to choose two teams of 10 players from each school. A difficult task when you think that there maybe over one hundred children attending each session.

At the end of the day we ventured over to a local walking Safari to see some wild (but safe!) animals.

When we arrived back at our accommodation, the staff had cooked us a traditional Zambian meal for dinner. There were lots of maize based dishes, chicken, vegetables and.......roasted caterpillar! Yes, roasted caterpillar! Many of the Team tried everything and seemed to enjoy the dishes, but not many went back for seconds!

Two days of coaching to go. It seems to be going by very quickly.

Please click on the link below to see all the photographs from Wednesday 13th July.

All the photos from Wednesday 13th July





Link to all the photos for Friday 8th July

Click on this link for all the photos from Friday 8th July

Tuesday 12th July - Coaching Day 2

Our second day of coaching and everybody was full of confidence. Our morning session at Zoks was far less chaotic as the whole school wasn't outside waiting for us.

Everything was much more structured and the Welling Team really shone in their coaching roles. This was evident when the Zambian children demonstrated how much they had learnt from the previous session.

The young children who were unable to take part in the sessions were taught the 'Hokey Kokey' by Mrs Killington, who was obviously affected by the rise in temperature.

For the afternoon sessions, both Teams walked cross country to Mount Makubu School, overcoming many obstacles along the way.

Like yesterday, the afternoon sessions were extremely enjoyable, productive and of a high standard.

As you can see from the pictures below, village life continues even when the Welling Team are around.



Today has been another inspiring and fulfilling experience which, in one way or another, is having an affect on us all.

Please click on the link below to see all the photos from Tuesday 12th July.

Tuesday 12th July

Link for Monday 11th July photos

Click on or copy and paste the link below into your browser to see all the photos from Monday 11th July.

https://picasaweb.google.com/110212511025330888145/Monday10thJuly?authkey=Gv1sRgCMv9vNfJx8az6gE

Monday 11th July - First coaching sessions

Today was the first day of why we came here. Coaching Tag Rugby to our schools. The Welling Team split into two with the idea of going into two different schools in the morning and then two different schools for the afternoon. George, Hannah, James, Joe and Peter were Team 1 while Abbi, Harry, Rebeca, Charlie and Grant were Team 2. Team 1 were to be dropped off at a school called Grand IQ but when we arrived they were not keen on disturbing their normal morning lessons so it was decided that both Teams would go to Zoc's School for the morning session before they split and revert to their planned schools for the afternoon. We all thought that the morning session would be easy. Two Teams, lots of coaches and equipment for a small amount of children. We were in for a shock!

We were met with what seemed like hundreds of excited children of all ages. The idea was to coach Grade 5 but we could not tell who was who and had no way of organising such a huge amount of people. The children were would not leave the sides of the Welling Team but eventually they managed to regain some order and begin their sessions.

We soon realised that the whole school had left their classes to come out and watch. How the Welling pupils managed any constructive coaching was beyond our expectations, but they did it, and they did it brilliantly. There were so many people around some of the Welling Pupils that they could not lift up their arms through lack of space. There was lots of interaction and conversation; an absolutely amazing start to the week.

For the afternoon sessions, Team 1 jumped onto the minibus to St Patricks while Team 2 started their trek through the countryside to Mount Makubu. There seemed to be more order to these schools and the Welling Pupils thrived and delivered two fantastic sessions to a large group of extremely appreciative children. We were told by one of the Teachers that attendance would be 100% for the rest of the week once the pupils realised we would be returning. It would probably surpass 100% once the word spread to the greater community.

In one of the groups there was a very young girl of around 9/10 years old who participated with a baby strapped to her back.



At the end of the day, back at Base, the Welling Teams planned for tomorrows sessions. They will all sleep well tonight........i hope!

Sunday 10th July - Market and visit to our schools

After a good nights sleep we were up and ready for our first real day in Zambia. After breakfast we went to a local market which sold a variety of goods ranging from bracelets and necklaces to hand made dining tables. The Welling Team had to use their skills at 'haggling' and 'bartering' and many came away with some real bargains while a number of them, including Mr Shears, lost their socks as part of the agreement.

After a quick lunch on the go, we visited the schools that we will be coaching in over the next 5 days. Some of the schools were well maintained Government schools while others were run by volunteers for the local community and extremely poor and run down. Some of the sights we were faced with today brought home how important our trip will be to the children out here. Even though the schools were closed today, many of the local community came out to greet us. Many of the children were from extremely deprived homes but were so happy to see the Welling students. It was an amazing day and everybody is so looking forward to the week ahead.

During a visit to one of the schools, we were invited into a church service held in the Main Hall. It was a fantastic experience and the people were so welcoming towards us. So much so that three of our team, George, Abbi and Grant, completely embraced the situation. We will try to get the video onto the blog soon.

Tomorrow we begin our coaching. We have hundreds of photographs to show and are trying to find a way for you to access them.