47 Xaverian students recently returned from a volunteering mission to Sri Lanka where they spent two weeks working on a range of projects to support the local community and ecology, from reintroducing turtles into the sea and collecting and recycling discarded plastic to teaching disadvantaged school children.
Prior to the visit, students spent time raising money to help pay for their air fare and to donate money to the Travelteer charity, ‘Travelteer Impact’. The charity has so far collected over £665,000 in donations, with the money being used for projects working with underprivileged children on sport development and teaching English, regenerating the local environment and protecting and repopulating endangered wildlife species. The money students raised funded a new turtle tank at the sanctuary that will be used as part of the programme to reintroduce turtles into the wild.
Amelia Cichy from Levenshulme High School and studying A Levels in Geography, Psychology and Biology, said: “I really enjoyed the volunteering aspects of the trip. You could see the impact we made from all the things we’ve done, and it was truly satisfying to know that we have made a positive difference to the area and the local population.”
The two-week packed itinerary also featured opportunities to explore the island, such as hiking up Ella Rock and Lion Rock in Sigiriya, a visit to the most sacred place of worship in the Buddhist world, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, a jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park to see endangered species, such as elephants, buffalo, crocodiles and birds and a surf camp at Weligama beach.
JJ Cullenaine, from Laurus Cheadle Hulme, who is studying A Levels in Biology, English Language and Politics, said of the experience: “The Sri Lanka trip was definitely the best trip I have ever been on. We took part in such a wide range of activities and new experiences, from learning how to surf to the bucket conga line at the turtle sanctuary and teaching young children English and coaching them in sport, everything was so unique and engaging. I met some amazing people and made friends that I wouldn’t otherwise have met without the trip.”
This is the first time the Travelteer experience has been offered to Xaverian students as part of the college’s ‘Xaverian Xtras’ enrichment programme. The programme aims to broaden students’ life experiences alongside studying academic subjects, and it was hailed as a resounding success by all who took part. Tegan Sterling, formerly of Trinity Church of England High School and following A Levels in Drama & Theatre, Film Studies and Photography, commented on the trip by saying: “This was genuinely a trip of a lifetime. I got to make so many new friends and try out so many new activities that I ever could have imagined. It’s also really helped with my confidence in trying new things and meeting new people.”
Project Leader and Xaverian History Teacher, Lydia Kerr-Pasiecznik, was joined on the trip by Xaverian Art Teacher, John Green, who both accompanied the students throughout the trip. Lydia first heard about Travelteer at a previous sixth form college she’d worked at, where she accompanied students on a similar volunteering trip to Nepal and saw the good that the charity does, and decided to introduce it into the college’s Xtras programme. Lydia said: “It was a pleasure to accompany the students on such a unique opportunity to visit a different part of the world and experience its geography, ecology and wildlife. All the students were amazing ambassadors for college who fully immersed themselves into every activity the programme offered. To be a part of an experience such as this at their age is truly invaluable and the memories from the trip will stay with them for a lifetime.
“Above all, it was an opportunity to contribute to the excellent work Travelteer is doing to protect and enhance the lives the people and wildlife living in the area and support and sustain the delicate ecosystem in the region, and we are immensely proud of the contribution Xaverian students have made to the project. Based on the success of the trip, we’re already planning to offer the Travelteer experience next year to Year 12 students.”