Wonderful show put on for expeditioners as a thank you from the whole school. Cultural visit proves an eye-opener!

Expedition leader Tom sends his final report from South Africa: 

Project complete! The team spent the first part of the morning tidying up the inside of the building and generally getting it ready to handover to the school, by mid morning everything was in place and we awaited the arrival of the students. As soon as the break time bell sounded hundreds of students descended on the grassy area outside the hall, they put on a great show with acts including kindergarten rap, traditional dance and poetry. 

Traditional dancing

The whole school turned out to thank us

Formalities complete the team handed out numerous gifts brought over from home and all were very gratefully received. 

Newly painted blackboard put to good use

After a quick lunch we walked out to one of the homesteads for a cultural visit, a formal bowed greeting on approach had us welcomed with open arms. All traditional customs were observed with the boys sat on benches and the girls on the floor, our host talked through the family values, way of life and the making of Palm wine with members of the team trying a small sip of the interesting liquid!

With the last day of the project complete everyone took the opportunity to relax before a delicious fish supper and bed.

Tomorrow will see a relaxed day spent down on the white sands of the bay before our final night in Africa! - Tom 

Kosi Bay and Community Project Work begins

Expedition leader, Tom, reports from Kosi Bay:

Progress at the school has been outstanding. All worked like Trojans to scrub, scrape and generally clear the hall inside and out. After only a day the outside has had two coats and the windows have been sanded back and under coated. The building is bigger than originally thought and we will need more paint, I proposed we use the money originally earmarked for the Zulu village (not up and running) to buy enough paint to finish the job in full, this was met with a unanimous 'YES' vote. We finished at three and took a leisurely stroll to the estuary mouth to wash off some of the paint and admire the view (see our photo below). Spag Bol for supper and an early night. Tomorrow we begin the teaching phase in conjunction with continued renovations. I think the whole team have now had a chance to reflect on how lucky their own school life has been. There were some upset tummies for 12 hours or so following the Pongola River phase but other than that all is well in Kosi. - Tom

Expeditioners hard at work on Community Project

Hardworkers break for lunch on Community Project

Kosi Bay on the Indian Ocean - perfect for washing off the paint!

Sunset from Expeditioners' camp at Kosi Bay