In 2004, I had the most amazing adventure of my life working with youth and sustainable development charity Raleigh International in Malaysian Borneo. The experience was made even more incredible by the unique experiences I had, the places I saw and the people I met.
But, it almost didn't happen. 11 years ago the idea of taking ’time off’ to travel, learn and grow was unusual for somebody like me, from a working class background.
I have been working with Raleigh to start a fundraising project, named after an amazing man who I met whilst working in the tiny village of Kampung Pahu, Sabah in Malaysian Borneo. Pius Bayoh was a very kind and humble man and a great inspiration to me and many other volunteers on my expedition.
In order to reach my target of £800, on Saturday 22 August 2015, I’ll be jumping out of a plane at approximately 10,000 feet!
The jump will be 100% self-funded, so all of your donation will go to Raleigh.
Your donation will be used to support young people from ordinary backgrounds who are currently fundraising for their own expeditions, and are struggling to meet their targets. I know from my own experience that reaching this goal can be challenging; it can be difficult to approach family, friends and strangers for donations, and many young people may not have an existing network to do so.
Young people who have made a genuine effort to reach their target and can justify their need for additional help will be supported to make a valuable and sustainable change in a marginalised community overseas. Volunteering on a Raleigh expedition gives young people the opportunity to develop their personal skills and become active citizens in their own community, having made a positive change in a developing country.
The basic criteria for recipients of the funding would be:
• An attendee or graduate of a non-fee paying school
• From anywhere in the UK (but priority given to East London boroughs)
• Applying for a 10, 7, or 5 week programme in 2016
• Must provide detail of personal circumstances or justification for needing additional support
• Must have had good engagement with Raleigh Volunteer Coordinators
• Must have made every effort to reach their fundraising target