RSIS UPDATEIssue 5 - March 2013

www.roundsquareprojects.org ̆� +44 (0) 1225 320 854 ̆� projects@roundsquare.org ̆� Registered Charity No. 327117

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Liz Gray, RSIS Projects Manager

December 2012 Projects ReviewIn December 2012 we had

93 students and

22 adults from

36 Global Member

Schools taking part in

5 different Projects Here are some highlights

from each of their trips!

INDIAeach day! At the end of the Project work, the team travelled to Agra and Jaipur to see the Taj Mahal, take elephant rides on Christmas Day and had a truly PHPRUDEOH�WLPH�YLVLWLQJ�WKH�JXLGH·V�family and having some beautiful henna tattoos done!

The team wrote a great blog about their experience, and it has some wonderful writing, as well as some great photos. ,W·V�UHDOO\�ZRUWK�WDNLQJ�D�ORRN�DW�LW�DQG�transporting yourselves to a far-off exotic land….

http://india2012blog.wordpress.com

“Thank you so much for the opportunity given to Julian. She

had the most wonderful time and really appreciated being able to

experience a world so unlike her own. She landed with a broader view of the world and her place in it. Thank you for all the hard

work that made her journey possible.” Parent

The team consisted of a team of international students from St Philips College, Westminster School, Ivanhoe Grammar School, Markham College, :HVWÀHOG�6FKRRO��6W�&\SULDQV�6FKRRO��Radford College and Brookhouse School. They were joined by a team of Indian students from Vivek High School, Punjab Public School and Mayo College. Sarah Gibb (formerly of Collingwood School) was the Project Leader, the Deputy Leader was Michael Thomas (Regents, Pattaya) and Beth Girvan from Radford was an DFFRPSDQ\LQJ�DGXOW��7KH�WHDP·V�3URMHFW�Manager was Ambikesh Shukla from Doon School, the medic was Dr Amar Lanka from Doon School and they were joined by a fantastic team of drivers, cooks and yoga teachers also from Doon.

The team returned to Katapathar community again this year, to continue work that the Doon School, and the other schools in the South Asia and Gulf Region are doing there. Our team spent their time getting involved in a number of tasks including restoring DQG�SDLQWLQJ�DOO�WKH�VFKRRO·V�WDEOHV�DQG�chairs, brightening up the classrooms, building a new toilet block for the school, restoring a playground, painting murals, building a Zen garden and doing lots of teaching and games with the children. At the end of the project, they put on a show with music, and some manic dancing to impress the villagers!

The team was staying at an Ashram near to the Project site, and had their own yoga instructor called Joseph. Joseph is a man full of magical powers as he managed to convince some of the students to rise at 5.30am to do several hours of meditation and yoga before breakfast, and imbued a sense of peace and calm amongst the team with his teachings as well as stories of the culture and history of his home country.

During the mid-project break the group travelled to Mussourie for a trek (10km) through the Himalayan foothills, and the following day had a chilly rafting session on the Ganges at Rishikesh! The group also witnessed the “Aarti” held on the edge of the Ganges that evening which is where people pray and sing holy songs to show gratitude to the river. Towards the end of the Project, the team went to visit the Paonta Sahib Sikh temple near the project site. The Indian team members patiently explained what the Sikh religion is about, and the group went to KHOS�LQ�WKH�WHPSOH·V�NLWFKHQ�ZKHUH�WKH\�honed their skills at making chapattis to be given out to the local people who come in to receive meals at the temple

CAMBODIAThe team in Cambodia in had a huge challenge ahead of them – to build a large community care centre next to the school that last \HDU·V�WHDP�EXLOW��7KH���URRP�centre (10m x 5m) is part of a nine-phase plan for this site in Prokeab, in southern Cambodia. This site will provide facilities for a large community that has barely any support for education, vocational training or basic care. The family care centre will be providing secure, temporary care for mothers and children who might need a meal, clothing, help in securing medical care or even a temporary safe place to sleep. It will also offer vocational and occupational programs for needy and landmine affected families.

The team worked incredibly hard alongside Phearom and his team of local builders, and completed the centre in 10 days which is an incredible feat, especially in the heat and humidity of southern Cambodia. The team had to use QHDUO\��������EULFNV����PVT�RI�VDQG��DQG����WRQV�RI�FHPHQW�amongst other things to build the centre, and it now stands proudly DORQJVLGH�WKH�VFKRRO�WKH������team built!

During the rest of the trip, the team had a chance to get fully immersed in Cambodian culture.

On arrival in Phnom Penh at the start of the trip, the team visited the POI school, which is a school and orphanage literally on a huge dump (rubbish tip). The school provides education for children who would otherwise be scavenging on the GXPS�WR�ÀQG�WKLQJV�WR�VHOO��7KLV�education should ensure that they FDQ�ÀQG�MREV�DQG�WKHUHIRUH�OLIW�WKHLU�families out of poverty and a life on the rubbish tip.

The team also visited the famous .LOOLQJ�)LHOGV�DQG�WKH�6����PXVHXP�to gain a greater understanding RI�WKH�KRUULÀF�UHFHQW�KLVWRU\�RI�Cambodia. In the middle of the Project, the team took a few days to travel up to the north to visit the incredible site of Angkor Wat, and take a couple of boat trips to temples and stilt villages. At the end of the working phase, the team travelled to Sihanoukville and had a fantastic Christmas on the beach!

+HUH·V�D�JUHDW�<RX7XEH�OLQN�WR�D�VKRUW�SLHFH�RI�ÀOP�WDNHQ�LQ�WKH�HDUO\�days of building work:

http://youtu.be/iY6K1u_xzNk

“It was incredible. I couldn’t have asked for a better 3

weeks, it was so beautiful and so humbling to participate in the activities and help the

community. Thank you!” Student

7KH�WHDP�FRQVLVWHG�RI����VWXGHQWV�from 16 schools including Gordonstoun, Ivanhoe Grammar School, Markham College, St &OHPHQWV�6FKRRO��:HVWÀHOG�School, Westminster School, Trinity Anglican School, Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School, St Stithians Girls College, St Cyprians School, Mayo College, Glenlyon Norfolk School, Brookhouse School, Strathcona Tweedsmuir School, Ballarat Grammar and Salem. Christopher George from Southport School was the

accompanying adult; the Project Leader was Sonia Christian (formerly of St Cyprians School, now at Dainfern) and the Deputy /HDGHU�ZDV�$QGUHZ�2·&RQQHOO�from The Armidale School. Lisa McCoy and Pauline Johns from A Mine Free World Foundation and Banyan Learning Tree were the Project Managers and the team were ably assisted by Phearom and his building team, as well as Ban the Cambodian team co-ordinator.

The team of 7 family groups (7 students, plus 7 parents) came from Radford College, Herlufsholm Skole, Strathcona Tweedsmuir 6FKRRO��/DNHÀHOG�&ROOHJH�6FKRRO��Markham College and Bridge House School. Jan Matthews (formerly at Ashbury College) was the Project Leader, Andrew Glenville (Regents, Pattaya) was the Deputy Leader; Silvia Schober from Landheim Schondorf was the accompanying adult and Sophie MacDougall-Davis ZDV�WKH�WHDP·V�PHGLF��-LP�DQG�Mem Soutar from the Pakanyor Foundation were the Project Managers and the team was also assisted locally by Ekachai and his team of builders, Richard Brookes from the UK, and Simon Peet from Thailand.

Our RSIS team went back to northern Thailand in December to work again with the Pakanyor Foundation, who provide clean water and health projects to the Karen hill-tribe people who live in the very north, not far from the borders with Burma. Our teams have been working with the Pakanyor Foundation for a number of years, and the experience is always a sensational one!

The group of parents and younger students (aged 14 and 15) all met in Chiang Mai at the start of the WULS��DQG�DIWHU�D�GD\·V�EULHÀQJ�IURP�the leaders, headed up into the mountains to the village of Ban Pha-An to build them a new clean water system in 9 days! The team were staying in home-stays with YLOODJH�IDPLOLHV�ZKLFK�ZDV�TXLWH�DQ�amazing eye-opening experience for them! They set about their task with huge energy, damming a water source, laying pipes down to the tank site, and building two huge 7,500 litre tanks so that the village can collect and store clean water. Working with local builders the team soon settled into their tasks and became a slick working group! Fed with delicious fresh Thai food by Mem Soutar and her WHDP��WKH�JURXS�ÀQLVKHG�LQ�UHFRUG�time, and at the end of the Project received newly woven traditional Karen shirts as gifts from the community by way of thanks.

$IWHU�WKH�ZRUN�ZDV�ÀQLVKHG��WKH�team headed back to Chiang Mai where they spent a day at an elephant conservation project, and had plenty of time to wander round the night market hoovering up plenty of local bargains! ,W�ZDV�WKH�VHFRQG�\HDU�ZH·YH�UXQ�a “family” RSIS project, and this \HDU·V�WHDP�KDG�D�WUXO\�PDJLFDO�experience so we are very happy to be continuing this idea into the future.

“A fantastic eye-opening experience that we will

remember for the rest of our lives.”

Parent

THAILAND

KENYAThe Kenya Project returned once again to Riandira Primary School. This was the third year that our teams visited the school to build another classroom, and the students and teachers were thrilled to welcome them back again! The school is receiving a bit more help from the government now and along with our help are ÀQDOO\�RQ�WKHLU�ZD\�WR�KDYLQJ�enough classrooms for all their students.

With the help of local builders, the group built the foundations and all the walls of the classroom leaving them to settle before the roof was put on in January. One of the students brought enough funds ZLWK�KHU�WR�EX\����QHZ�VFKRRO�desks for the classroom, which were delivered in January and which will go in the new room that the team built. Others in the team brought educational donations, D�VRODU�ODPS��VSRUWV�HTXLSPHQW�and even glasses to hand out to those in need. Aside from building the classroom, the team also helped with tending to the VFKRRO·V�JDUGHQ��GRLQJ�ZHHGLQJ�and repairing the fences and also dug a rubbish pit and tried to encourage students and families to consider ways that their refuse is handled.

At the mid-project break, the team went rafting and after a visit to a local church service (always an fascinating experience!) formed small groups to do local home visits. The team shopped for each family before going to visit, and while in their homes learned much more about their lives and the challenges each family faces.

$IWHU�WKH�ZRUN�ZDV�ÀQLVKHG��WKH�team headed off to the Masai Mara for a few days of safari before returning to Nairobi for their journeys home.

“This experience was probably one of the best experiences of my life. I met incredible people from all over the world and was able to make a difference in a community that needed Round Square’s help. I will never

forget this trip!” Student

7KH�WHDP�FRQVLVWHG�RI����international students from St Philips College, Ivanhoe Grammar School, Westminster School, Wellington College, Strathcona Tweedsmuir School, Bayview Glen School, St Clements School, Markham College, Ballarat Grammar, Billanook School, Mayo College and UWCSEA. They were MRLQHG�E\�D�WHDP�RI����ER\V�DQG���staff from Starehe Boys Centre and School, Nairobi. The Project Leader was Carlos Cazorla (Salem) and the Deputy Leader was Vanessa Tait from Ivanhoe Grammar School. Peter Ndungu (Starehe) was the local Project Manager.

and toys! The community at St Philips College, Alice Springs had sent a large donation in memory of Des Vida, who was one of their teachers and was Deputy Leader in +RQGXUDV�LQ������²�WKLV�ZDV�VSHQW��as he would have wished on 60 backpacks full of school supplies, and also to help some of the boys go on further education. Des would have been very proud of the legacy KH·V�OHIW�LQ�+RQGXUDV�

“All in all, it was an amazing experience which I hope to be a part of again. It showed me many different aspects of life, and made me feel like I accomplished something for the greater good, while making

friends from all over the world. Thanks Round Square!”

Student

The team consisted of 10 students who came from Wellington College, St Philips College, St Clements School, Bishops College School, St Cyprians School, Ballarat Grammar and Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School. Lesley Buckmaster was the Project Leader and Carlos Heleno was the Deputy Leader – both from Appleby College. Cato Elvir from Sociedad Amigos de los Ninos (SAN) was the Project Manager.

7KH������3URMHFW�ZDV�WKH�ODVW�one that we will run in Honduras for the time being. We have put in a lot of work for the amazing organisation of Sociedad Amigos de los Ninos (SAN) and this \HDU·V�WHDP�UHDOO\�ÀQLVKHG�RII�RXU�association brilliantly.

The group went to build smokeless stoves for some of the families in the Flor Azul Village, where many of the orphaned kids live. The group visited several KRXVHV�RQ�WKH�ÀUVW�GD\�WR�VHH�WKHLU�existing cooking arrangements, DQG�H[SHULHQFH�ZKDW�LW·V�OLNH�WR�be inside with a heavily smoking RSHQ�ÀUH��7KDW�VRRQ�PRWLYDWHG�everyone to get to work to improve the lives of the people in these houses. Working in small groups, each with a local builder, the team learned how to mix the cement, how to properly construct the brick and metal stoves and construct the outside chimneys. $IWHU���GD\V��WKUHH�VWRYHV�KDG�been built for 3 families! By the end of the Project, the group had built 15 stoves in all – an amazing achievement!

While there, they also had a chance to visit some of the other projects that SAN is involved in, so visited a project for HIV affected kids, and also a kindergarten where they had plenty of chance to play with the children, as well as leave them some donations.

By the last day, the team had ÀQLVKHG�DOO�WKHLU�VWRYHV��EXW�ZHUH�still keen to do some more work, so built a wall around the new water pump at Nuevo Paraiso! They also had the chance to take part in a lovely traditional Christmas ceremony called “La Posada” which is a re-enactment of Joseph and Mary looking for ORGJLQJ��7KH�JURXS�ÀQLVKHG�RII�their stay helping to throw a great ÀHVWD�IRU�WKH�FKLOGUHQ��LQFOXGLQJ�a “piñata” stuffed with sweets

HONDURAS

ThanksOur particular thanks go to all our

Project Managers in Thailand, Kenya, Cambodia, Honduras and India;

all our wonderful, dedicated, thoughtful and incredibly hard-working leaders; and of course to our support team of Liz, Clare and

Ann who handled on-call incidents with professionalism and care!

Leading Role

What was the most amazing moment on the South African RSIS Project and why? Seeing the way the team members, especially the so-called macho boys, so generously, lovingly and tenderly interacted with the disabled kids at Masoyi, and how moved some of them were at their circumstances.Another highlight was during an evening spent with some of the choir members of Fundinjobo School, they sang to the accompaniment of the bagpipes, played by Michael from Gordonstoun School. This was a bizarre, surreal and moving experience to hear the swell of the bagpipes mingle with the amazing voices of the local school pupils, RQ�D�PDJQLÀFHQW�PRRQOLW�$IULFDQ�QLJKW�

What motivates you to work with school groups? I love to be the catalyst to put groups of children together, those from privileged backgrounds and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It is a win-win situation: the visiting schools groups see a side of life and a culture that they have never experienced before; the rural kids can get renewed hope DQG�LQVSLUDWLRQ�WR�VWULYH�IRU�PRUH���,W·V�OLIH�changing on all sides.

With Liz Mackintosh, Project Manager for RSIS South Africa

Tell us a bit about your background ,�KDYH�RYHU����\HDUV�RI�experience in community and educational development and environmental education in the rural communities and schools of Mpumalanga, 6RXWK�$IULFD������\HDUV�ago, I founded an Outreach Programme at Uplands Preparatory School in White 5LYHU��,Q�ODWH�������,�IRUPHG�my own business, The African Schoolroom http://www.africanschoolroom.com/specialising in school tours and internship placement of teachers and student teachers from overseas. I am also a member of the White River Rotary Club ZKHUH�,·P�LQYROYHG�LQ�overseeing 9 different service projects.

When and where was your ÀUVW�H[SHULHQFH�ZLWK�56,6"�I had been hearing about Round 6TXDUH�RYHU�DQG�RYHU�IURP�PDQ\�different sources. One evening I met a teacher from England who was visiting a friend in SA. The school ZKHUH�VKH�WHDFKHV�LV�D�5RXQG�6TXDUH�school. When she heard about the work I was doing, and the fact that my “ideals” so closely correspond to the RSIS IDEALS, she encouraged me to contact Liz Gray. I then became the project manager for the July �����6RXWK�$IULFD�SURMHFW�RUJDQLVLQJ�IRU�WKH�5RXQG�6TXDUH�LQWHUQDWLRQDO�WHDP�WR�EXLOG�D�classroom at Masoyi Special Care Centre for disabled children.

What do consider your role to be as Project Manager?To ensure that the RS IDEALS are met, to ensure that the service project recipient is deserving and well prepared and that the ÀQLVKHG�SURGXFW�LV�ZHOO�H[HFXWHG��,Q�DGGLWLRQ��I work with the team leaders, to ensure the safety and well being of the team members, as well as to make sure they have lots of fun!

How do you see your role in the community?,�JXHVV�P\�SURÀOH�DV�D�SHUVRQ�ZRXOG�EH�a “server”. As long as I have the energy, inspiration and resources to make a difference, even in a small way, I will continue to do so.

,�KDYH�D�IDYRXULWH�TXRWH�E\�Mark Twain that sums up my message to the school groups:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed

by the things that you GLGQ·W�GR�WKDQ�E\�WKH�RQHV�

you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade

winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

If money were no object and you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do there? Do I have to choose one?? I would walk the Camino (although I am going to do that next year anyway); I would go and see the Northern Lights; I would ÀQG�D�SODFH�LQ�7XVFDQ\��,�WKLQN�I was Italian in another life), write books and live off the land; I would do an overland trip through Africa, exploring every nook and cranny.

VACANCIESavailable

The leadership positions for July RSIS 3URMHFWV�ZLOO�VRRQ�EH�ÀOOHG��

However, we still have spaces for an accompanying adult on the project in Canada and for an Indian adult on the Ladakh Project. If you are interested,

take a look at the website ZZZ�URXQGVTXDUHSURMHFWV�RUJ or get in touch with us direct!

We will need to recruit leaders for our December RSIS Projects soon, and will most likely need leaders for some or all of our destinations including Nicaragua

(new project), Cambodia, Thailand, Kenya and India.

We are really excited to be UXQQLQJ�RXU�ÀUVW�56,6�5RPDQLD�3URMHFW�LQ�-XO\�������,W·V�QRW�RQO\�D�new Project in a new country, but DOVR�WKH�ÀUVW�(XURSH�EDVHG�56,6�Project in a number of years.

Romania is a fascinating destination – a country with incredible natural beauty (think beautiful alpine mountains, SDVWXUHV�IXOO�RI�ÁRZHUV��(XURSH·V�highest concentration of wild bears, wolves and other mammals); a country full of historical buildings (think castles with soaring spires, Saxon wooden houses, imposing Gothic DQG�%DURTXH�VWRQH�WHUUDFHV��DQG�a country with a fascinating history (think Ottoman Empire, legends RI�7UDQV\OYDQLD��&HDXVHVFX·V�communism and democracy in 1989). Romania only appointed LW·V�ÀUVW�QRQ�IRUPHU�FRPPXQLVW�OHDGHU�LQ�������DQG�MRLQHG�WKH�(8�LQ������DQG�ZKHQ�\RX�YLVLW��you will see many reminders of its recent turbulent history. 5RPDQLD·V�SRSXODWLRQ�QRZ�

displays huge contrasts in social order – from the hugely wealthy, right through to the most impoverished you can imagine, and the country still faces many challenges in trying to shake off the legacy of communism while dealing with extremely rapid change.

The team will be building a youth centre for the young people in the village of Baisoara which is around 60km from Cluj-Napoca – the main city of Transylvania. We are working in partnership with Transylvania College, our newest Regional Member of 5RXQG�6TXDUH��7KH�&ROOHJH�LV�XQLTXH�LQ�WKH�DUHD��DQG�LQGHHG�LQ�PXFK�RI�5RPDQLD�IRU�LW·V�HWKRV��teaching model and how it helps to mould and shape an optimistic future for its students. There is a Romanian line, as well as British line of education, which merge at WKH�WRS�RI�WKH�VFKRRO��DQG�LW·V�D�VFKRRO�ZKHUH�WKH�5RXQG�6TXDUH�ethos and IDEALS are very much celebrated and integral to

Projects JULY 2013Focus on Romania!

the daily lives of all who attend and work at the school. They are extremely excited to be hosting this Project, and have been instrumental in setting up the logistics and contacts for the work to be done.

The team will stay in 7UDQV\OYDQLD�&ROOHJH·V�VXPPHU�camp, a beautiful collection of buildings set up in the mountains about 15 minutes drive from the Project site. The camp consists of several “normal” concrete buildings for meeting and eating, while the students will stay in old, traditional Romanian log cabins which were brought to the site on the back of lorries from another part of Romania!

The team will work with local youth to help build the centre, and will visit local families as well as spend a lot of time with the local children. This is not a wealthy community, and tourists seldom visit the area so our group will be a huge centre of

attention. When Liz visited the mayor of the town last November, the local radio turned up for an interview – such was the interest in what we are doing!

The team will of course have a chance to go hiking during their stay in the stunningly beautiful Carpathian Mountains, and will have a few days to see some of the ancient sites of hill-top citadels, castles and Saxon villages at the end of the trip.

Our team returns again to the magical kingdom of Ladakh (“Little 7LEHWµ�DV�LW·V�NQRZQ��LQ�-XO\�WKLV�year. They are continuing work for the Lamdom Model School which LV�LQ�7KLNVH\����NP�RXWVLGH�WKH�capital of Ladakh, Leh.

As part of our long-term commitment to the school, our team will be building more dormitory rooms that are always needed to encourage more children from the more remote mountain communities who FRXOGQ·W�RWKHUZLVH�DWWHQG�D�school.

The local community has always helped themselves and worked hard to improve facilities for their school, so our team will be an additional workforce working alongside hardy local people to build the new rooms out of traditional mud and straw bricks, URFNV��VDQG�DQG�FRQFUHWH��,W·V�hard work, especially in the very KLJK�+LPDOD\DQ�DOWLWXGH��EXW�LW·V�a very special experience for our

teams to work in such a magical place, alongside people who are so pro-active about providing educational facilities for their community.

The team will work hard for a couple of weeks, and will then have a chance to take a rest, by walking themselves for 5 days at over 5,000m through the Himalayas! Supported by our amazing group of local guides, excellent chefs, porters and horses the team will have a hard walk, but one that offers the most stunning mountain views and huge sense of achievement you can imagine!

If you like camping, fantastic food, breathtaking mountain views, the colour and excitement of India and lots of hard work, then this trip is for you. If you like mirrors, sumptuous feather duvets and afternoon naps then LW�LVQ·W���

Ladakh

7KLV�LV�WKH�VHFRQG�\HDU�WKDW�ZH·YH�UXQ�3URMHFWV�LQ�&DQDGD�DQG�ZH·YH�added even more diversity to the work that the team will be doing this year.

We will again be working with B.C. Parks, and helping them uncover and renovate a long-forgotten trail in Kitwanga Mountain Park in northern British Columbia.

The team will be clearing the trail up to the summit of the mountain, making signs and hopefully helping with benches or lookout points. The Ranger who manages the park works on his own, and he has a park larger in size than the UK, so as you can imagine – clearing and maintaining trails is not always high on his priority list.

The work the team will do will open up more of the park to hardy hikers, and also to local people who go there to pick berries and other foods. The team will work in two groups on alternate days with the other half of the group working at Soaring Spirits Camp doing chores such as preparing salmon for the smoke-house, working on building a winter root cellar and working in the kitchen and garden.

The camp is part of Rediscovery International and is left to the local people to run as a long WHUP�OHJDF\��VR�DOWKRXJK�LW·V�D�well established camp, they still need help to keep it running and

LPSURYH�LW·V�IDFLOLWLHV�VR�WKH�ORFDO�people can host more groups in the future.

In the second week, our team will be working on two “micro-SURMHFWVµ��7KH�ÀUVW�KDOI�RI�WKH�week will see the team working DW�WKH�KLVWRULF�1RUWK�3DFLÀF�Cannery Heritage Site. This was built in 1889 and is the oldest intact cannery on the British Columbian/Alaskan coast. ,W·V�EHLQJ�UHVWRUHG�E\�WKH�3RUW�Edward Historical Society and the local community.

The team will stay in the historic bunkhouse, and take part in a variety of tasks including helping to restore the buildings, building a trail down to the EHDFK��EXLOGLQJ�D�ÀUH�SDYLOLRQ��doing a beach clean-up and helping to clean the historical artefacts and exhibits there. In the second half of the week, the team will be working in the Gitxsan community of Kispiox helping with some construction ZRUN��<RXWK�IURP�WKH�FRPPXQLW\�will be with the group throughout WKHLU�VWD\��DQG�OLNH�ODVW�\HDU·V�team – you will learn a huge amount about their fascinating history. The name “Gitxsan” means “People of the River of Mist” and their territories encompass approximately �������VTXDUH�NP·V�RI�ODQG��7KH\�are a matrilineal society that

Focus on Canadaconsists of Frog, Eagle, Wolf and Fireweed Clans and the Elders and Chiefs will welcome you with traditional ceremonies when you arrive at the start of the trip, and will also bring some of their stories and history to the Council Fire on evenings during the trip.

The group will also experience a ��GD\�FDQRH�WULS�LQ�WUDGLWLRQDO����man canoes, and will naturally be surrounded by mountains, trees, fresh air, wildlife and the magical history and totems of the Gitxsan people during their stay!

The group lucky enough to be heading down to South Africa in July is in for another treat. The team is going to be building a school kitchen and storage area for Entokozweni School, located in Kabokweni Township just outside White River.

The school has 750 children in it, and while they have great classrooms, there are barely any other facilities there. There was no borehole until recently, and few long-drop toilets. There is no garden, or playground and WKH�VFKRRO·V�H[LVWLQJ�NLWFKHQ�is extremely basic. Two ladies cook lunch for all these children in a shelter made of wooden poles and tin and cook with RQH�FDXOGURQ�RYHU�DQ�RSHQ�ÀUH��The team will therefore build a SURSHUO\�HTXLSSHG�NLWFKHQ��DQG�storeroom along with a serving area so that the school will have D�SURSHU�IDFLOLW\��,W·V�DOVR�KRSHG�that the team can build a proper playground for the younger kids, and as the school will be in session the team can also help

with teaching and sports with the students.

The group will also spend 4 GD\V�DW�(OHSKDQW·V�'ULIW��ZKLFK�is a wilderness camp deep in the Greater Kruger Park. Here they will work with local guides to do small conservation tasks, learn about animal tracking and will sleep out under the stars for a night. The team will receive talks from experienced guides, and also from Richard Goss, the owner of the camp and renowned ZLOGOLIH�ÀOP�PDNHU��

South Africa

The team going to Peru this year will be working in a mountain YLOODJH�FDOOHG�<XQFDFKLPSD��approximately 50km from Cusco. This is a relatively poor village whose income is mostly gained from agricultural and herding activities. There is currently no kindergarten in the village, so the younger children have to travel to the nearest town (around 5km away) to go to school (either on foot, or by vehicle). They are desperate for their own kindergarten so the team will be building this alongside local builders and people. The building will consist of one room, 5m x 3.5m wide and the tasks involved will include mixing a lot of mud and cement, digging and preparing foundations, brick-laying, plastering and building tables, chairs and shelves. If WKHUH·V�WLPH�ZH�KRSH�WKH�WHDP�ZLOO�also be able to paint the building and add a few colourful touches here and there!

This will be really valuable addition to the community, and the team will be assured of a warm welcome as well as some great insights into the way the

FRPPXQLW\�FDUULHV�RXW�LW·V�GDLO\�OLYHV��7KLV�LVQ·W�D�SODFH�WKDW�tourists visit, so our group is likely to attract a lot of attention!

The group will also experience a fascinating day with our friends at Apulaya at the start of the trip. Apulaya is run by a Swiss-Peruvian couple who specialise in teaching local people as well as international visitors about ancient Incan art and music.

The group will be given their own set of pan-pipes, and taught traditional music (always a cause of much hilarity!) and will then have a talk about the mysteries and magical nuances of Incan art. The team will create their own Incan designs and will then be encouraged to take their pan-pipes away for some practice. This is in preparation for a last GD\�FHUHPRQ\�DW�<XQFDFKLPSD�DW�the end of the project, when the Apulaya team visits along with traditional costumes, drums and other instruments, and conducts a traditional blessing ceremony. ,W·V�D�JUHDW�HQG�WR�WKH�ZHHNV�RI�hard work and provides some great memories for the group.

Peru

Notice Board

Our endurance prize goes to

our India team for enduring an

unexpected 14-hour bus journey

�K\L�[V�ÅPNO[�JHUJLSSH[PVU��MYVT�

Dehradun to Agra through thick

MVN"�HUK�MVY�]VS\U[HYPS`�NL[[PUN�\W�

at 5.30am each day to practice

[YHKP[PVUHS�`VNH�HUK�TLKP[H[PVU�

with the team’s dedicated yoga

instructor Joseph!

Three students received bursary funds

to help them go on RSIS Projects in

December, and have submitted some

beautifully written reports. We’re proud

to have supported you!

The Thailand team had an

unexpected luxury – they picked

coffee beans in the village,

roasted them and then drunk fres

h

coffee in the morning, which

they needed to get through the

day having been woken at 4am by

the over-enthusiastic village

roosters!

The teams in December completed:

- 15 smokeless stoves for families i

n Honduras

- A new classroom for Riandira Prima

ry School in Kenya

- A 2-room community care centre and

playground for

Prokeab Village in Cambodia

- 2 water tanks and a clean water sy

stem for the Karen

village of Ban Pha-An in northern

Thailand

- A playground, new desks and chairs

and toilets for

Katapathar Village, Uttarakhand, n

orthern India

PAPF StatisticsPAPF statistics – in December we spent:- £5,000 on the new classroom for Riandira Primary, in Kenya- £5,400 on the community centre in Cambodia- £3,800 on the smokeless stoves in Honduras- £5,000 on playground, garden, paint and materials for

Kataphar village, India���������RQ�QHZ�ZDWHU�WDQNV�LQ�1RUWKHUQ�7KDLODQGWe salute your incredible fundraising efforts –

thanks to our amazing students, our communities

around the world have over 100 bikes, chickens,

mozzie nets and school bag packs in Cambodia;

water tank, solar lamps, educational supplies

and desks for Kenya; educational supplies for the

school in India; Clothes and household supplies in

Thailand and 60 backpacks, student sponsorship,

new brick wall and donations to the SAN food programme in Honduras.

� �� Nerds Corner

www.roundsquareprojects.org ̆� +44 (0) 1225 320 854 ̆� projects@roundsquare.org ̆� Registered Charity No. 327117

For fellow geeks who are interested in learning more about risk management on trips, or appreciate articles and advice on this subject, take a look at the following links:

6DIHW\�GRHVQ·W�KDSSHQ�E\�DFFLGHQW�

From the Outdoor Safety Institute (US)���DUWLFOHV�DERXW�LQFLGHQWV�WKDW�WRRN�SODFH�LQ�������DQG�ZKDW�ZDV�OHDUQHG�IURP�WKHP�KWWS���ZZZ�RXWGRRUVDIHW\LQVWLWXWH�FRP�LQGH[�SKS�QHZV�VLQJOH���BIURPB����BRXWGRRUBVDIHW\BDUWLFOHV/

Free Risk management download: KWWS���ZZZ�RXWGRRUVDIHW\LQVWLWXWH�FRP�SGI�%HWWHUB5LVNB0JPW�SGI

From the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) – US6RPH�H[FHOOHQW�UHVRXUFHV�LQFOXGLQJ�WDONV�DQG�VHPLQDUV�IURP�WKH������:LOGHUQHVV�5LVN�0DQDJHPHQW�&RQIHUHQFH�http://www.nols.edu/wrmc/resources.shtml

)URP�2XWGRRU�(G�²�WKH�RXWGRRU�HGXFDWLRQ�SURIHVVLRQDO·V�UHVRXUFH��86��http://www.outdoored.com/

)URP�WKH�+HDOWK�DQG�6DIHW\�([HFXWLYH��8.�Tackling the health and safety myths on school trips: http://www.hse.gov.uk/services/education/school-trips.pdf

Educational Visits Co-ordinator (EVC) training and refresher courses (UK)���DQG���WK�)HEUXDU\�������DW�WKH�5R\DO�*HRJUDSKLFDO�6RFLHW\��5*6�,%*���/RQGRQ��*XLGDQFH�RQ�KRZ�WR�SODQ�RII�VLWH�YLVLWV��LQFOXGLQJ�VSRUWV�DFWLYLWLHV�DQG�DGYHQWXUH�DFWLYLWLHV��IXOÀOOLQJ�+HDOWK�DQG�6DIHW\�REOLJDWLRQV�

National guidance for off-site visits, school policy review course (UK) 1�WK�-XQH������DW�5R\DO�*HRJUDSKLFDO�6RFLHW\��5*6�,%*�����*XLGDQFH�RQ�XSGDWLQJ�VFKRRO�SROLFLHV�LQ�OLQH�ZLWK�QDWLRQDO�guidance for off-site visits. http://www.rgs.org/OurWork/Fieldwork+and+Expeditions/Fieldwork+Expeditions.htm

View from

Seat 43AWell since the last newsletter, Liz has been allowed out from behind her computer and has travelled to some diverse countries. After the latest Global Conference in South Africa, Liz spent a week at home and then set off for the USA. After a true white-knuckle clash with some destructive turbulence in the jet stream just above Greenland (which sent the plane down to cloud level in a very short space RI�WLPH��LQ�D�ÁXUU\�RI�Á\LQJ�OXJJDJH��PXFK�screaming, loud prayers and copious sickness IURP�SDVVHQJHUV�DOO�DURXQG���/L]�ÀQDOO\�ODQGHG�in San Francisco, ready to kiss the ground she QHYHU�WKRXJKW�VKH·G�VHH�DJDLQ��/L]�VSHQW�WKH�ÀUVW�ZHHN�RI�KHU�WULS�YLVLWLQJ�$WKHQLDQ�6FKRRO��&DWH�6FKRRO�DQG�ÀQDOO\�&KDGZLFN�6FKRRO��$OO�three schools gave her a very warm welcome, and it was wonderful to be able to spend time with past, present and future RSIS student participants as well as faculty interested in Project and risk management issues. Cate

School even provided a sunrise paddle-boarding session where the local pod of bottle-nosed dolphins came to pay us a visit as we glided along on the water!Armed with a hire-car and a thick wad of written directions and maps, Liz had some epic long drives down the Californian coast between schools, and was thrilled to H[SHULHQFH�G\QDPLF�ULVN�DVVHVVPHQW�DW�LW·V�PRVW�YLYLG�ZKHQ�WDFNOLQJ�UXVK�KRXU�WUDIÀF�LQ�Los Angeles. In the second week, Liz travelled up to beautiful Portland, Oregon to take part in the annual NOLS Wilderness Risk Management Conference. This is a world-class gathering of outdoor professionals, experts from the legal, insurance, risk management and HTXLSPHQW�VHFWRUV�DQG�SOHQW\�RI�JRUWH[�FODG�outdoor leaders. There were just-under 480 delegates, and Liz was the only attendee from the UK. She spent days in seventh-heaven attending lectures on selecting leaders, legal issues, incident management and “the near-miss”, risk management, training and many other themes, and gathered some extremely useful contacts and ideas to bring back to RSIS Projects in the future.

/L]�KDG�EDUHO\���ZHHNV�DW�KRPH�EHIRUH�her next visit – this time to Romania. She spent a fantastic week there as a guest of Transylvania College, driving around the country looking at prospective projects for RSIS teams in the future. She visited ÀYH�SRWHQWLDO�SURMHFWV�LQ�DOO��DV�ZHOO�DV�accommodation options and a few cultural sites before returning to the UK. Two weeks after that, Liz headed off to Jordan, as a guest of Kings Academy as keynote speaker at the Regional Conference at WKH�VWDUW�RI�'HFHPEHU�������7KLV�ZDV�WKH�ÀUVW�WLPH�/L]�KDG�YLVLWHG�-RUGDQ��DQG�was delighted to join the conference delegates in seeing many incredible sites. She spent the afternoon visiting Amman Baccalaureate School where she was delighted to meet a room full of students eager to learn more about RSIS Projects that they could join in the future. She also KDG�DQ�RSSRUWXQLW\�WR�ÁRDW�LQ�WKH�'HDG�Sea, and explore the incredible Bedouin city of Petra and saw ancient Byzantine churches and a fort where Laurence of Arabia stayed. She very much enjoyed spending time with the wonderful delegates at the conference who came from places as diverse as Palestine, India, Oman, Jordan and even Kenya.