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02 September: The Return

Daina Rawlings from Earl Shilton and fourteen of her class mates from Dixie Grammar School in Market Bosworth are back from Namibia!

She popped into see ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Leicester's Pinash Dankwah on Into Africa to tell him how they got on...

Daina really got on with the children and were surprised how welcoming they all were:

"When we first got there all the kids were out playing outside. We got off the bus and the did a sort of welcome song and dance for us. It went on for ages and it was just amazing.

"It was so different to what we'd usually do here... they really go for it!"

All To Plan?

The group had planned a long trek, however it didn't exactly go to plan - an ill Daina ended up having to go on a rescue mission when one of the group cracked their tooth on a mango!

"You can't really practice that at home because you'd just get funny looks!"

Despite being a self-proclaimed fussy eater, Daina tried a whole range of different African food on the journey including crocodile, ostrich and zebra (which she would definitely recommend!).

It's no wonder that after her African adventures it feels quite strange to be back home in Leicestershire!

08 July: The Background

Daina Rawlings from Earl Shilton is off to Namibia with fourteen of her class-mates from Dixie Grammar School in Market Bosworth.

She's looking forward to going trekking and helping to improve an African school.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Leicester's Chris Highton asked Daina about her planned visit when she appeared on Into Africa…

At first the group of students, accompanied by a trained guide, will take short treks carrying rucksacks in order to acclimatise themselves to the baking heat.

After this preparation, Daina will take part in the project phase which will take place at a school located in the middle of desert.

The group aim to build a play area for the children, dig a vegetable patch and decorate the interior walls of the school.

Initiation

The students have already had to use their initiative to raise the £3000 that each individual needs to take this amazing journey.

At a recent fundraiser they held a big posh charity dinner for all their parents in the school hall, which had been decorated with giant plants!

For Daina this will be a totally new experience. So are her parents worried about her stepping into the unknown?

"They seem quite happy to get rid of me actually!"

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