Fourteen students from this school near London raised US$1500 and then used these funds to help build a meeting room-handicraft centre in a local school. The centre will provide a facility where the older people in the village can teach the young students some of the dying skills such as weaving and basketry. This community project was a truly communal effort as at times, it seemed the whole village turned out to help move earth, mix concrete and lay bricks. The opening ceremony with displays of the sort of skills to be imparted, and dancing by both the Thai children and the English students, was indeed memorable.

The project at the Maekok River Village Resort Initiative was fantastic! This is a fantastic base for a project: good, clean dormitory accommodation (where they change your sheets and make your bed!), fabulous food and a wonderful friendly couple in charge. Bryan and Rosie Massingham were fully involved from the start and were also fully in tune with the developmental aims of the expedition. In addition to the project, Rosie and Bryan also organized a Thai cookery course and a lecture/meditation session by Adjarn Suthep a Buddhist monk from Wat Thaton wat-thaton, located just a short walk up the mountain from the resort.

Three and a half days were spent in total at the school. The challengers were able to get really involved with the building of the centre, as well as experiencing the challenges of delivering English lessons to a classroom full of children! Many of them discovered new skills and passions.

On the Saturday, the school hosted a celebration event in the newly opened handicrafts’ centre. With the cement barely dry, the place was transformed and the building used for speeches, dancing shows and a handicrafts’ demonstration. The team even got involved, showing off their poi (a kind of juggling) and Scottish country dancing skills (much to the bemusement of the locals)!

It was clear from this event that the outcomes of the project were positive for all concerned. The school was delighted with their new building and with the stimulation and input that the children had received, the local educational board was made aware of the work that the M.R.V.R.I.are undertaking and are planning to undertake in the region and the challengers had a rewarding and unforgettable experience.