From school to north of India (From Witney Gazette)

From school to north of India

8:20am Friday 18th July 2008 in Witney By David Horne

A GROUP of teenagers are off on a mind-expanding trip to India to broaden their horizons before going on to college or sixth form.

The ten students, who are just finishing their time at Carterton Community College boarded their plane to Delhi, looking ahead to a 16-day trekking adventure in northern India.

They are passing through remote valleys, scattered high villages and hilltop monasteries, and the ascent of a Himalayan mountain in Ladakh province.

Ed Brodhurst, assistant headteacher - pictured with some of the students - who is leading the group, said: "We have been planning, fundraising, and training for almost two years now.

"We launched the trip in September 2006, and pupils have been providing catering for school events, undertaking sponsored sporting events, obtaining support from local companies, and basically working very hard on their weekend jobs.

"Our general aims are to broaden the horizons of Carterton's young adults, to challenge them physically and to equip them with leadership and teamwork skills."

They are also doing community work, including working at a hostel for disabled children. They have taken out 50 football shirts, and hope to get a game with local children.