https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC Follow our 12 Challengers as they explore Zambia and Botswana. en-us 2017-06-09 17:01:27 UTC 2023-07-16 14:47:26 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padletuploads.blob.core.windows.net/prod/81373193/20efec4604fbdea73d06759dbadb5086/Capture.png redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176697259 And we're off! ]]> 2017-06-16 20:30:10 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176697259 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176698045 2017-06-16 20:44:51 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176698045 MrCoughlan https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176725398 We have landed in Zambia and have just arrived in our accommodation for the first night.]]> 2017-06-17 14:49:22 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176725398 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176725674 2017-06-17 14:57:57 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176725674 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176746682 2017-06-18 05:18:11 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176746682 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176746761 Our ride from the airport to Birdsnest Backpackers]]> 2017-06-18 05:20:20 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176746761 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176746801 2017-06-18 05:23:42 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176746801 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176765171 Think of you all, lots of love the students in Zambia x]]> 2017-06-18 14:48:34 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176765171 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176905309 These three days have been full of mostly struggle, new experiences and learning.
The first day was the team struggling to get to the hostel and settling down to recuperate from our jet lag, we also during that night handed out the roles with myself volunteering as leader.
At first I was nervous and made some mistakes but through the day next day I think I improved.
The day after I was relieved of my role as being the leader and it was given to Lewis but he got a little luckier since we had a fun 8 hour bus drive with bad Zambian music in the morning from Lusaka to a Livingstone; where we are in a Backbackers.
Our team is starting to come together and the communication is improving so it should get a lot better as we get more experience through the three weeks.]]> 2017-06-19 20:22:30 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/176905309 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177338365 Sorry it's been a few days, we are coming to the end of an amazing community project in Mwandi and have had no signal. We have been camping under the stars by night and during the day we have built a mud house for the local community, many of whom have lost one or both of their parents. We have made friends with so many of the children, saying goodbye today is going to be heartbreaking. I think it's safe to say this experience has changed our students and how they see the world. They have been so good and today we will give our funds to help these children go to school and learn English. Our next phase will be Trek so it may be five days again until we check back in. Everyone is well and sends their love x]]> 2017-06-24 10:29:31 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177338365 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177338449 2017-06-24 10:35:14 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177338449 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177338474 2017-06-24 10:37:09 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177338474 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177338494 2017-06-24 10:38:21 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177338494 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177338509 2017-06-24 10:39:28 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177338509 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177338522 2017-06-24 10:40:43 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177338522 MrCoughlan https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177370136 Hello!
We have arrived back in Livingstone from Mwandi and have just finished our shopp no got the 5 day Batoke Gorge trek ahead of us.

In Mwandi, the Challengers donated the 6000 AED that was fundraised over the school terms to the community. This donation means that 15 kids in the village won't have to worry about paying for their education for the remainder of the school year; which ends in December! We have also put some money towards paying for the tuition of one of the villagers education degree. 

Won't be able to update while on trek, but will post when we have finished! All kids are well :)]]> 2017-06-25 12:37:23 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177370136 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177815818 Hi, we survived and have all successfully gotten into Botswana! Tomorrow morning will be the river safari followed by a evening Game drive in Chobe . Internet is very difficult here but we are all okay, still roughing it in our tents but enjoying the final stages of our rest and relaxation after a very challenging and demanding Trek x]]> 2017-06-30 12:37:32 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177815818 MrCoughlan https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177816982 Day one of the trek challenged us with both a steep descent and very rocky terrain! Lots of sore legs the day after but very rewarding!
Students did us all proud!]]> 2017-06-30 12:58:18 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177816982 MrCoughlan https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177830845 2017-06-30 16:33:02 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177830845 MrCoughlan https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177857398 We have just completed the first safari of the day and we were very fortunate with the game spotted!
Elephants, Hippos, Water Buffalo, Antelope, Crocodiles, Warthogs, Baboons and many types of bird!
Kids are all well and excited for the game drive this afternoon.]]> 2017-07-01 11:05:52 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177857398 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177879854 After an awesome few days in Chobe we are making our way back to Livingstone. Here we will see Victoria Falls and white water rafting as well as one more river cruise]]> 2017-07-02 07:13:50 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177879854 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177879993 2017-07-02 07:19:48 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177879993 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880016 2017-07-02 07:21:31 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880016 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880052 2017-07-02 07:23:24 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880052 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880093 2017-07-02 07:25:34 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880093 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880131 2017-07-02 07:27:39 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880131 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880171 2017-07-02 07:29:48 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880171 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880192 2017-07-02 07:30:56 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880192 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880228 2017-07-02 07:32:58 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880228 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880280 2017-07-02 07:34:41 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880280 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880402 2017-07-02 07:36:26 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880402 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880443 2017-07-02 07:37:58 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177880443 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177895027 We have settled back into our hostel, tents are up for the final time! Whoop!! And the food team have been out in force getting the food supplies in. Tonight we have had sausage, beans and  mash with gravy! Oh and boiled eggs for the veggies! I think it's safe to say the cooking skills should be improved when we give them back to you! An early start tomorrow with an added extra of Zip lining and then onto exploring Victoria Falls for the rest of the day. We will check in with some pictures tomorrow evening]]> 2017-07-02 17:14:50 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177895027 MrCoughlan https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177898620 I was the best leader this team has ever seen. Nothing else to it - Joe 2017


]]> 2017-07-02 19:14:33 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177898620 MrCoughlan https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177971549 Managed to tick this amazing experience of all of our students bucket lists today! Great views and we all got absolutely soaked; well worth it though!
Also managed to include a zipline over the Zambezi before this.]]> 2017-07-03 20:06:10 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177971549 MrCoughlan https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177971876 2017-07-03 20:14:02 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/177971876 MrCoughlan https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/178028804 2017-07-04 12:34:04 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/178028804 MrCoughlan https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/178120917 One of our final activities in Livingstone before hearing back to Lusaka.
Saw this family of Hippo on the shore, and also spotted more elephant and crocodiles.

8 hour bus to Lusaka tomorrow and flight the day after. Kids are all looking forward to seeing you again :)]]> 2017-07-05 16:10:34 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/178120917 MrCoughlan https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/178220963 We are now on our final night in Zambia. The 3 weeks have flown by so quickly!
Our first flight is at 3:30 Zambia time tomorrow. We will be arriving in Dubai at around 3 am on Saturday.
We expect to be back in Abu Dhabi at 4:30.

Kids are looking forward to seeing you all after a tiring 3 weeks! See you on Saturday. ]]> 2017-07-06 21:44:07 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/178220963 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/178289102 Just in the line for passport control and then we will be on our way. We will all call you when we are on the coach]]> 2017-07-08 00:06:29 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/178289102 redwhitstar29 https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/178290613 2017-07-08 01:36:21 UTC https://padlet.com/MrCoughlan/AYAWC/wish/178290613