A group of 18 students from Peter Symonds College in Winchester will be embarking upon a challenge of a lifetime next week, when they travel to a remote part of north-east India to extend a primary school facility. The students, aged 16 and 17, are participating in the nationally recognised Fulcrum Challenge, with support from Southampton Airport. The challenge is a self-development and leadership programme which commenced back in September 2008 with fundraising for the programme.

The team will travel to the state of Uttaranchal in north-east India, trekking for four days to reach a remote village in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary has spectacular views of the Himalayas and a wide variety of wildlife. The Jageshwar region is also rich in religious history, with over 100 carved stone temples originating from the 11th Century.

Upon arrival, the team will work dawn until dusk, to build a classroom extension to the village’s only school. The facility has 30 students aged from 4 to 14, who travel up to 5 miles to school each day. The building currently has two classrooms, with a third class being taught outside when the weather permits.  Materials for the build will be brought in specially by mule and sourced from across India from up to 150km away. At night, the volunteers will be camping nearby.   

The team of students will be accompanied by three business leaders from Southampton Airport, including Phil Beattie (Airport Fire Manager), Kate Sibley (Marketing & Community Communications Executive), and Clare Cook (Airport Ambassador). Their role is to mentor the students through the challenge, helping to develop fundraising ideas, guide the redevelopment of the school and support the students with their studies.

As part of the students development, the students had to raise £1,500 each, which has been match-funded by The BAA Communities Trust. The Trust is BAA’s own charity, and supports global projects linked to youth development. The Peter Symonds team held a variety of imaginative fundraising activities, including; talent shows, quiz nights, curry nights, cake baking, supermarket bag packing and Saturday work.

Catrin Edgeley, Student from Peter Symonds College, said: “I raised nearly all of my money by doing a sponsored milking of 100 cows! I can't wait to experience culture in India without being confined to the tourist areas; being able to travel in India without the boundaries that other visitors face will hopefully give us a really unique insight into the country and the people who live in it.”

The group will be on their Fulcrum Challenge in India from 2nd April to 17th April 2009. Upon completion of the full programme, all participants will earn an ASDAN Level 3 Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) qualification, as well as up to 70 UCAS points to go towards their University entry. 

Clare Cook, Airport Ambassador and Fulcrum Challenge Business Leader, commented “To be given this opportunity to make a contribution to society, as well as help with the personal development of the students is an honour. I believe that we will all value this experience for the rest of our lives.”