Well, fast-forward 12 months and after having convinced us how strongly she believes in this project ... tonight I drove a very excited freshly-turned-16-year-old to the airport to join her friends all gathering as their Sustainable Development Programme reaches its peak.
Over the past nine months Expat Girl and 17 of her peers have been planning and organizing a three week trip to Namibia to help construct a school boarding house.
Under the guidance of a very calm and collected project leader and IB (International Baccalaureate) teacher - who has been leading development school trips for nearly two decades - this bunch of motivated kids have been working hard to raise funds and prepare their project.
She also told me that these student teams are like wine, some years are better than others... it seems this year's vintage is one of the best! Not only are they independent and full of initiative, they have managed to raise a record of 30'000.- Euros in nine months.
The funds will be used to buy material in Namibia's capital Windhoek which they will then transport across the country to a little corner called Otjimanangombe near the Botswanian border.
But first the troop will have the honour of paying a courtesy call to the President of the Namibian Republic, his Excellency Dr. Hage Gaingob.
What an experience this adventure will be for the children and what I would give to be part of this trip?!? Clearly my daughter was very happy to be going with her friends rather than her mother! Admittedly... I would too!
So, sweetheart, here's wishing you safe travels as you are taking off right around the time I am writing this post. Have a fabulous time, be strong, be patient, be adventurous but not too much! Papy and I will be waiting impatiently for you to return in three weeks time to hear all you stories and admire how much you will have grown and matured while we but blinked!
The enthusiasm and determination of this great little woman is incredible. Certainly great skills allow her to face and realize a dream. The courage to bring this project to the end not because it is an adventure, but because it is necessary. Vivien is making the world more beautiful and few people in the world can brag about it. You have all my admiration ...
ReplyDeleteThank you Francesca. We are certainly very proud of Expat Girl and her dedication and commitment towards a cause she so strongly believes in.
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