Learning outdoors project – join me in my once in a lifetime adventure!

I'm Ania, busy mum of two school aged children, privately mountain lover. I'm living and working in Cheltenham.

Sometimes life takes unexpected turns, mine took several in the past year. Having had loved ones, like my father, on my side helped me to ease the bumps. He offered very practical help, such as buying a car. I opted for a second hand bike and booked a flight to Pokhara! Pokhara is so close to the heart of Himalayas...

About my challenge: I will be leaving to undertake my trek late October 2019 and I am planning to reach Annapurna Base Camp in Himalayas. This is the most physically and mentally ambitious project I have ever taken on.

This trek is a very personal journey. On the same time I feel a part of community, my children grow in this place, this is their home. I want to help by raising funds for a local school ambitious project – a green outdoor space, wildlife mini-haven where children can learn, thrive and develop. Project will be open to the community too.

In short, I am trekking to help improve the future of all of our children and I would be delighted if you could join me by supporting the cause and donating via the link!

Thank you!

More about the school, more about the project:

St. Gregory the Great Catholic School in Cheltenham. I did not know few facts about that outstanding inner-city school with 470 children: 47% who do not speak English as their first language, 29 different languages spoken, 23% who have little or no garden space and a mental health support worker who has a case load of 100 families.

What I know the school is underfunded and that makes their results even more incredible. School's intake is varied and includes children from different socio-economic groups. Staff works hard to challenge the inequality gap on a daily basis.

The school ambitions do not stop there: they would like to create an outdoor learning space by recycling shipping containers and turning concreted areas into a wildlife area. This area will be carbon neutral and use solar energy and rain water harvesting, teaching the children how to look after their world too. Parents who need greater purpose to their life will help with the upkeep of the area.

The total cost is £51,000.

Lots of parents are supporting this project already doing incredibly well in raising money through various events via Friends of Saint Gregory charity. I'm joining their efforts in this ambitious project because it shapes children's future by enhancing their learning and highlighting the importance of sustainable living. It addresses the widening inequality gap because it is for all to use and learn together, irrespective of background. It is also open for use by other community groups further afield than the school.