RSIS UPDATEIssue 6 - September 2013

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

Greetings from Bath, in the west of England! We’ve had E�VIEPP]�[SRHIVJYP�WYQQIV�LIEVMRK�EFSYX�¿ZI�EQE^MRK�RSIS teams, and all their adventures in Ladakh, Peru, Romania, South Africa and Canada. We hope you enjoy reading about their exploits as much as we have!

Liz Gray, RSIS Projects Manager

July /August 2013 Projects5 projectsCanada Peru India Ladakh Romania South Africa

CANADApavilion. This is the community meeting place, where youth and Chiefs meet to discuss issues and problems, and where ceremonies and story-telling take place. The group also worked at Soaring Spirits &DPS�RQ�D�VXE�SURMHFW�KHOSLQJ�WR�ÀQLVK�an underground root cellar (for storing food) and also on some of the pathways. They were joined during the trip by some First Nations youth and community members who added valuable cultural depth to the team, and made some great friends too!

After all the work was over, the team enjoyed a wonderful 3 days canoeing down the Skeena River in a traditional 12-man First Nations canoe, camping on the side of the river each night and enjoying some great barbeques! The trip ended with a big meeting at the Council Fire, with speeches from the local Chiefs, skits, songs, drumming and a massive feast!

A wonderful experience for the whole team, who have really done themselves, their families and their schools proud!

“This trail was cut in the late 70’s and has not been cleared or maintained since that time –

basically the trail was obliterated by windfall and underbrush before

the students began work up there. The trail is also extremely steep, climbing 860 vertical metres

in less than 3 kilometres. The students and group leaders all worked very hard help clear the trail to alpine. Not only did they

work hard, they also worked safely and were cheerful in their work. We couldn’t be happier

with the end results!” Area Supervisor Bryan Last,

BC Parks.

The Canada Project this year has been a stunning success. Despite there only being a small team of 10 students, they have worked harder than any other and have achieved a huge amount of work, all in very good humour. They have truly embodied the spirit of working hard and playing hard and have done so as one united team which is great to see.

The team had three different Projects WR�ZRUN�RQ�GXULQJ�WKHLU�WULS��,Q�WKH�ÀUVW�week, the team worked alongside Rangers from BC Parks restoring the Kitwanga Mountain Trail that had lain covered for several decades. Using saws, axes and plenty of other tools, the team worked their way up the trail, which weaves for several kilometers up the mountain (more vertical than horizontal by all accounts!) DQG�ÀQDOO\�EURNH�WKURXJK�WR�WKH�WRS�of the mountain by the 5th day to be rewarded with incredible views of the snow-topped mountain range around them. The Rangers were extremely LPSUHVVHG�E\�WKH�WHDP·V�ZRUN�HWKLF�

After this hard work, the team were rewarded with a couple of days visiting Alaska. They were able to watch the bears trying to catch salmon and even had slides on the glaciers which was a ÀUVW�WLPH�IRU�PDQ\��)ROORZLQJ�WKLV��WKH�WHDP�KHDGHG�RII�WR�WKH�1RUWK�3DFLÀF�Cannery, a National Heritage Site near Port Edward. It was established in 1889 and is the oldest intact cannery in British Columbia. The team spent 4 days here scraping and repainting some of the buildings and helping with the exhibits. They stayed in the old bunkhouse and enjoyed the incredible views and peace over the water.

After this, the team travelled back down to Kispiox where they spent 4 days working with the local community to build 18 benches for the Council Fire

The team of 10 students came from Cobham Hall School, Salem, Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Brookhouse School, Regents School Pattaya, Louisenlund, Bayview Glen School, Scindia School and Appleby College. The Project Leader was Dagmar Dietel from Salem, and the Deputy Leader was Zoe Sills from Gordonstoun School. None of this would be possible without the help and support of Thom Henley our local Project Manager, BC Parks and the First Nations communities in Kispiox and Kitwanga.

PERUThe team in Peru this year took on a huge challenge – to build a kindergarten for a rural Andean YLOODJH����NP·V�IURP�&XVFR��7KH�trip started very smoothly, with all arriving in Lima for a day of EULHÀQJV�DQG�RULHQWDWLRQ�LQ�WKH�city. One of the students on the team was Peruvian, so showed great delight in showing her new friends round her home city of Lima!

2Q�GD\����WKH�WHDP�ÁHZ�GRZQ�to Cusco and had 3 days to get used to the high altitude and try out some great activities. On one day they went to climb a via ferrata (“iron way”) which is a series of metal rungs set into a sheer rock-face hundreds of metres high above the Urubamba Valley. The following day saw the group visiting Apulaya art and cultural centre where each were given a set of their own panpipes and taught how to play traditional music! They were to put these lessons into practice later on during the trip.

Then the team set off to Yuncachimpa, a remote farming community that has no school in it. At the moment the children have to walk for an hour to the neighboring town to go to school, which often means the littlest FKLOGUHQ�GRQ·W�DWWHQG�DQ\�VFKRRO��7KH�FRPPXQLW\�OHDGHUV�LGHQWLÀHG�the need for the kindergarten, and the team set about making it with locally made bricks, wood and cement. They worked with local

EXLOGHUV�DQG�KDG�DQ�DOPRVW�ÀQLVKHG�building by the time they left a few weeks later! The group were split into four, and went to camp with different families in the community who cooked for them every night. Mid-way through the Project, the group travelled to Ollantaytambo and on to Aguas Calientes to spend a few days seeing Mondorpampa rainforest and the famous site of Machu Picchu. All were suitably DZHVWUXFN�E\�WKH�PDJQLÀFHQFH�RI�this ancient Inca city and it was all enhanced by the group taking an early morning hike up Huayna Picchu – the mountain next to Machu Picchu that you always see in the famous photos!

7KH�WHDP�ÀQLVKHG�WKHLU�WLPH�LQ�WKH�community with a fantastic village celebration and blessing of the new building. The team from Apulaya came up to the village bringing traditional costumes and drums with them, and the whole team played their pipes and drums creating a UHDO�ÀHVWD�DWPRVSKHUH��7KH�SDUW\�went on into the night!

Following their time at the village, the team travelled back to Cusco for a few days at the end of the trip for reviewing and debriefs, and also to see a few sites around this famous city, visit the markets and take salsa lessons at a famous dance school. It was all rounded off by a last night dinner in a restaurant overlooking the main square with Peruvian music and dancing to see the night through!

A really successful trip which has left a community with a new school that we hope will be operational within the next few months.

The team consisted of 18 students who came from Hotchkiss School, Salem, Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Daly College, Bishops College School, Regents School Pattaya, Trinity Anglican School, Wellington College, Cate School, Ermitage, Mayo College and Markham College. The Project Leader was Carlos Cazorla (Salem); the Deputy Leader was &ROOHHQ�/HH��/DNHÀHOG�&ROOHJH�School) and the accompanying adult was Julie Muir (Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School). Maria Gracia Moran was the Project Manager in Lima!

“Thank you very much for your Peru update.... watching every beautiful smile in the pictures you shared with us nourished my soul...

Happiness, Love, Team work, Accomplishment, Friendship,

Pride, Share, Us, We... is what I see, what I feel

when I look at the pictures....Beyond words! Thank You! We want to share with you the happiness and pride we

feel as parents, knowing that our RSIS members, work

very hard in assuring that our kids receive extraordinary life lessons beyond the School

Campus.... We want to honour that and thank you!”

Feedback from Parent

the Deputy Leaders were Sheila Kuyper (Appleby College) and Skand Bali (The Doon School). The accompanying adults were Dr Sabine Jasny (Salem) and Leslie Cushner (Athenian School). The WHDP·V�PHGLF�ZDV�'U�$PDU�/DQND�from The Doon School. All were very well taken care of by the incredible team of cooks, guides, managers and staff from Snow Leopard Trails.

“While driving to the Delhi airport yesterday evening I

passed the YMCA. It was a little reminder of how frightened

I felt and how unknown the trip seemed just a month ago. ,�P�VDWLVßHG�WR�VD\�WKDW�E\�the end of the trip you all

felt so much like members of my family, some of the least frightening and most familiar

people to me. Thank you all for spending an amazing, adventurous month along side of me in India.

It is one I will truly never forget and will always hold

close to my heart.” RSIS Ladakh team member

7KLV�\HDU·V�WHDP�UHWXUQHG�WR�the Lamdom School in Thiksey, about 20km from Leh. Our teams have been working there for a number of years gradually adding WR�WKH�VFKRRO·V�LQIUDVWUXFWXUH�DQG�providing much-needed buildings for the children there. The team this year added more rooms to the GRUPLWRULHV�DW�WKH�VFKRRO�ÁH[LQJ�muscles carrying endless bricks, mixing mud mortar and stripping Poplar logs that were supports for the roof.

During the Project, the team went up to visit the monastery above the worksite, and spent time with one of the monks talking to him about his life, and gaining a rare insight into the work of the monastery. At the end of the Project, one of the monks came down from the monastery and presented traditional white scarves and a blessing of thanks to the team for all the work they had achieved for the community.

After the Project was over, the team set off on their 5-day trek in the Himalayas. Although they were well acclimatized to the high altitude, the trek still pushed many of the team members. They had WR�ÀQG�QHZ�VWUHQJWKV�WR�VHH�WKHP�over several very high passes of over 5,500m. On the penultimate day of the trek, some of the group hiked up to Stok Kangri base camp and up to the foot of the glacier where they enjoyed amazing views of the Rimo peaks (next to the Siachen Glacier, in the East Karakoram). Once back in Leh, the team had a whole day to enjoy the hot showers and FRPIRUWDEOH�EHGV�EHIRUH�Á\LQJ�down to Delhi and bidding farewell to their Indian teammates. The international team then had a day to visit the Red Fort, Fatepur Sikri DQG�WKH�7DM�0DKDO�EHIRUH�Á\LQJ�home.

7KLV�\HDU·V�WHDP�ZHUH�WKH�PRVW�outstanding team for a while, with the local builders commenting that WKH\·G�QHYHU�VHHQ�VXFK�D�KDUG�working group.

The team consisted of 11 international students (from Louisenlund, Cate School, Salem, Felsted School, Rothesay Netherwood School, Athenian School, Hotchkiss School, Milton Abbey, Markham College and Appleby College) and 5 Indian students (from Vivek High School, Dhirubhai Ambani International School and Scindia School).

The student team was ably led by a team of six adults. The Project Leader was Duncan Hossack (Saint Andrews School),

INDIA LADAKH

ROMANIA:H�FRXOGQ·W�EH�KDSSLHU�DERXW�WKH�EULOOLDQW�ÀUVW�\HDU�RI�56,6�Projects in Romania! As with any new Project, one is always nervous about everything running VPRRWKO\�EXW�WKLV�FRXOGQ·W�KDYH�gone better. The Project Leader, Deputy Leader and accompanying adult all arrived to Romania early and had a chance to go down to the Project site to check out arrangements, meet community leaders and also to visit Transylvania College. The College is a very new member of Round Square but their staff and students are so enthusiastic and immersed LQ�.XUW�+DKQ·V�HWKRV�DOUHDG\��Along with parents from the College, the leaders went to meet students arriving into Cluj-Napoca and they had a night in the city to UHFRYHU�IURP�ÁLJKWV��

The following day they all travelled to Baisoara, a couple of hours drive from Cluj-Napoca to start on building work at the youth ÀWQHVV�FHQWUH�LQ�WKH�YLOODJH��7KLV�building had been requested by the young people in the village and the mayor had worked with Transylvania College to bring this dream alive for them. Working alongside local builders, the team started work on the walls, taking them right up to roof level in the ÀUVW�ZHHN��7KH\�DOVR�SXW�WRJHWKHU�a lovely time-capsule which got concreted into the wall of the centre, which contained a photo and messages from the team to WKRVH�WKDW�ÀQG�LW�LQ�WKH�IXWXUH��

In the mid-project break, the team completed some local hikes (in training for the main trek later in the trip) and also had a chance to visit Bear Cave, an ancient cave-system full of the bones of bears from thousands of years ago!

In the second week of Project work, the team completed the brick-work on the inside of the building, and some of the team travelled to a neighbouring village to work on the foundations of a new school wall for the Primary

School. While in Baisoara, the group had the rare privilege of attending a wedding ceremony as special guests of the Mayor and her daughter who was getting married in the Orthodox Church in the village. So the team got all dressed up, and went to join everyone in the church and help celebrate this special occasion!

The building will be covered, and WKH�JURXS�LQ������ZLOO�ÀQLVK�LW�DOO�RII��doing all the plastering and painting inside and out.

$IWHU�WKH�EXLOGLQJ�ZRUN�ZDV�ÀQLVKHG��the group set off on a tough 4-day hike in the Retezat Mountains. They had to carry all their food, tents, clothes and cooking equipment up into the mountains, where they established a camp for 3 nights. They took on several day-hikes around high lakes and up towards the peaks. The team had some ÀWQHVV�FKDOOHQJHV�DPRQJVW�WKHP��but none the less – all pushed themselves hard and achieved more than they thought possible!

After the trek, the team had a few days of cultural phase which took them off to the ancient citadels of Brasov, Bran and Sighisoara. While in Bran, they visited the Castle ZKLFK�LV�FODLPHG�WR�EH�'UDFXOD·V�FDVWOH��EXW�LVQ·W��7KH�WHDP�DOVR�KDG�a couple of nights in the ancient preserved village of Malancrav, where Saxon descendants still live, and work. The team saw the old manor house and church, visited apple and pear orchards.

7KH�WULS�ÀQLVKHG�RII�ZLWK�D�ELJ�SDUW\�at Transylvania College on the last night. Throughout the trip, our team had been joined by various students and staff from the College, who had come to know our team very well. So a great party was thrown, the students performed skits and watched an amazing video put together by Alex, the accompanying adult.

$�UHDOO\�IDQWDVWLF�ÀUVW�56,6�3URMHFW�WR�5RPDQLD�WKDW�FRXOGQ·W�KDYH�been done without the incredible

support of the staff and students at Transylvania College, especially Mrs Iulia Bratfalean-Igna, the Round Square Rep.

The team consisted of 16 students from Bayview Glen School, UWCSEA, Athenian School, Amman Baccalaureate, Cate School, Daly College, Vivek High School, The Doon School, Regents School Pattaya and Markham College. The Project Leader was Chad Detloff (Chadwick School), the Deputy Leader was Rachel Cazabon (Rothesay Netherwood School) and the accompanying adult was Alexander Orht from Stiftung Louisenlund. The team were joined by staff and students from Transylvania College throughout the trip.

“It was an incredible experience in which I made

many friends. I enjoyed every moment…..and fell in love with the medieval and gothic towns

of Romania.”

map on one of the walls of the school. This required going into the school at night and using a projector to beam a picture of a map onto the wall to trace around! Genius!

Thanks to an anonymous donation to the school, the team were also able to construct a fantastic wooden playground, complete with slides and swings which was a big hit with the children.

The team were lucky enough to be visited by the Savuka Youth Crew one evening at the camp where they were treated to an energetic and thrilling dance performance , and were then taught some of the moves to try out themselves culminating LQ�D�¶GDQFH�RII·�FRPSHWLWLRQ��2Q�another night, the group took part in a drumming workshop on traditional African djembes and they found RQFH�WKH\�VWDUWHG�WKH\�FRXOGQ·W�stop and the drumming rhythms continued through sunset and late in WR�WKH�QLJKW�DURXQG�WKH�FDPSÀUH�

The end of the building phase of the project and in celebration of the new kitchen the children gave another great spectacle of singing and dancing. There were lots of emotional goodbyes as the team said their farewells to the children and teachers at Entokozweni.

As expected in Africa, the group got the chance to see plenty of wildlife whilst they visited the Kruger national park, a wildlife rehabilitation centre and then at the end of the project during the 5 days they spent in the private Klaserie game reserve. The students had a truly wonderful time learning about the environment, the bush and wildlife in an experiential way, through a range of activities such as camping out under the stars, walking safaris and

Our largest team this summer was the South Africa team consisting of 22 students. They returned to the town of White River where their task was to build a much needed kitchen and storeroom for the Entokozweni School, a primary school in the Kabokweni township, just outside White River, Mpumalanga.

When the team arrived on their ÀUVW�GD\�DW�WKH�VFKRRO��WKH\�ZHUH�given a truly memorable welcome where the whole school sang and danced for them, which was very moving for many of the students. They were then split in to 3 groups, one to work on the building, one to work in WKH�VFKRRO·V�YHJHWDEOH�JDUGHQ��and one to teach lessons to the children. The building team quickly learned the art of cement mixing and bricklaying using string OLQHV�DQG�LQ�WKH�ÀUVW�ZHHN�WKH\�achieved a phenomenal amount, despite a small setback of the bricks running out on the second day!

The gardeners worked tirelessly tilling, weeding, mixing in compost DQG�PDNLQJ�ZDONZD\V�LQ�WKH�ÀUVW�week ready for planting the 200 donated vegetable seedlings.

The students got the opportunity to teach everything from mathematics, to creative writing and were even tasked with teaching the children English ÀVKLQJ�WHUPV�ZKLFK�UHVXOWHG�LQ�the students and children playing some great imaginary games. It was hard to tell who enjoyed it most!

Another great project that everyone got involved in, was creating a huge colourful world

SOUTH AFRICA

:H�FRXOGQ·W�KDYH�ZLVKHG�IRU�EHWWHU�WHDPV�RI�VWXGHQWV�DQG�EHWWHU�WHDPV�RI�OHDGHUV�WKLV�-XO\��Everyone has worked extremely hard, and become very close friends sharing challenges, laughs and incredible community experiences together. We would like to particularly thank all our leaders and Project partners, without whom none of this would have been possible. While we do all the SUHSDUDWLRQ�DQG�DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ�EHIRUH�HDFK�WULS��LW·V�WKH�OHDGHUV�DQG�ORFDO�PDQDJHUV�ZKR�EULQJ�DOO�our work to life, and guide students through their journey. So thank you! We look forward to having you back on more Projects very soon!

tracking, driving safaris and bush survival skills. They also had some close up encounters with snakes, spiders and scorpions during a visit by Donald Stryder, the founder of the Khamai Reptile Centre in Hoedspruit. Several of the group wowed us with their photography skills, capturing some awe inspiring wildlife shots.

RSIS South Africa Blog!The July RSIS South Africa team wrote a fantastic, amusing and engaging blog during their time RQ�WKH�3URMHFW��,W·V�VR�ZHOO�ZRUWK�D�UHDG���LW·OO�PDNH�\RX�ODXJK�DQG�LW·OO�bring a tear to your eye. Written by WKH�VWXGHQWV��LW�FRQWDLQV�YLGHR·V�DQG�a lot of their amazing photographs. Grab a coffee and indulge yourself at:

http://rsissouthafrica2013.wordpress.com

“It was like a dream come true to have an opportunity to make a positive, tangible change to their lives whether it was by building a kitchen for them, teaching,

constructing the playground or gardening.”

“I was teary eyed while leaving them but the time I spent here will remain

etched in my heart forever. And kudos to Damien, Karen

and the great team for making it the success that it has

been.” Akrita

The team consisted of 22 students from Chadwick School, The Athenian School, Vivek High School, Abbotsholme School, Salem, The Bermuda High 6FKRRO��6W�&OHPHQW·V�6FKRRO��Herlufsholm Skole, United World College of South East Asia, Louisunlund, Markham College, Mayo College and Landheim Schondorf. The project leader was Damien Vassallo (Landheim Schondorf), the deputy leader was Karen Niedermeyer (UWCSEA), and the accompanying adult was Frances Cook (The Bermuda High School). And our remarkable local project manager was Liz Mackintosh to whom we owe an enormous amount of gratitude for organizing such a fantastic project.

Thank You!

Leading Role

map out, looked at other routes, discussed what was involved and consequences and we settled RQ�D�FRPSURPLVH��,W�GLGQ·W�JR�SHUIHFWO\��EXW�LW�ZDV�a hugely authentic learning experience for the group as they made the decision themselves. They did reach a pinnacle on the hike, and a huge sense of accomplishment, which was different to what was expected at the start of the day, but that felt really good.

A Peru highlight was going up to a tiny lake high up in the Andes, a brisk walk from the community. Eight of the team members volunteered to get up at 5am, hike for 2.5 hours up very steep terrain in the freezing cold. We went with local people who had put nets out in the lake, and our little group EURXJKW�EDFN����ÀVK��:DWFKLQJ�VWXGHQWV�SXOO�WKH�QHWV�RXW�RI�WKH�ODNH��WKHQ�FDUU\LQJ�ÀVK�EDFN�WR�the team was an amazing moment. They learned KRZ�WR�SUHSDUH�WKH�ÀVK�DQG�WKHQ�ZH�KDG�D�IHDVW�URXQG�WKH�ÀUH�

:KDW·V�EHHQ�WKH�IXQQLHVW�WKLQJ�\RX·YH�VHHQ�or heard on an RSIS trip? In Peru, almost everything was the funniest WKLQJ�,·G�VHHQ�RU�KHDUG�EHFDXVH�RI�WKH�DOWLWXGH�(lack of oxygen affecting my brain no doubt) and extremes of weather (freezing cold). So silly things were hilariously funny - how everyone looked in the morning when the struggled out of their tents; having to try and sleep wearing all your clothes because it was so cold; having to break ice on the bucket in order to wash your teeth in the morning....etc etc!

If you had my job, what would you change (if anything) about RSIS Projects? ,�SUREDEO\�FRXOGQ·W�FKDQJH�WKLV��EXW�ZRXOG�ZDQW�to.... I would want to have more students, from more schools involved in the trips. I would especially want to have more local students on Projects in their own country (for example, more

With Chad Detloff, Leader for RSIS Romania

What did you teach and where? I teach 12th Grade English at Chadwick School, Palos Verdes, California. I am also the RS Rep, so I am responsible for preparing students for projects and FRQIHUHQFHV��DQG�UDQ�WKH�$PHULFD·V�<RXQJ�Round Square Conference recently!

:KHQ�DQG�ZKHUH�ZDV�\RXU�ÀUVW�H[SHULHQFH�with RSIS? It was in Peru in 2010 - I went as accompanying adult!

You started on RSIS as an accompanying DGXOW���DQG�KDYH�ULVHQ�WKURXJK�WKH�UDQNV�to be full Project Leader! What is the ELJJHVW�RU�PRVW�LPSRUWDQW�OHVVRQ�\RX·YH�learned on your route to RSIS Project Leader, and what would you say to others who are keen to go on a Project in the future? The biggest lesson - how important it is for the students to trust the leaders, and to have D�UHODWLRQVKLS�WKDW·V�EH\RQG�H[SHFWLQJ�WKH�OHDGHUV�WR�MXVW�WHOO�WKHP�ZKDW�WR�GR��6R�LW·V�about empowering the students, so they feel OLNH�WKH\·UH�JHQHUDWLQJ�WKH�ZRUN�DQG�KHOSLQJ�WR�PDNH�GHFLVLRQV�GXULQJ�WKH�WULS��$OVR�LW·V�DERXW�HYROYLQJ�WKH�VWXGHQW·V�SDUWQHUVKLS�ZLWK�WKH�FRPPXQLW\��VR�WKH\�GRQ·W�IHHO�WKH\�DUH�just being servants, but gaining the notion of working together with the community to create something meaningful and new.

Advice for others...simply to just listen to the students, and to give them the same level of respect that you expect from them. Also give students the same level of responsibility that they expect of you. We sometimes think of that backwards as teachers - that a “magical sense of respect” will just happen, but the more responsibility we give to students, the more they respect us. So give the kids more responsibility, give them more of the onus of the work or brunt of work. So for example: get them to create a “chore wheel”, or give them responsibility to organise evening activities; working with the cook on the trip; having group decide what the hike will be. Then they feel empowered to make decisions about the trip, rather than feeling that they have to “follow the leader” all the time.

:KDW�KDYH�EHHQ�WKH�PRVW�GLIÀFXOW��DQG�most amazing moment on a RSIS Project and why? On the trek in Romania, we were on the 3rd day and it was the hardest hiking day. The group was facing a ton of challenges (home-sickness, some medical concerns, very tired - a real slump in morale). So we got the students together, everyone shared how they were feeling, then the group suggested a decision on what to do for the day. We got a

Peruvian students on the Peru Project, more South Africans on the SA trip) and would want more bursaries available to enable more to come. I would encourage every school to put aside an amount of money each year to sponsor or part-sponsor a student to go on a Project. I would also be really keen to have a student leader, who pays 50% of the fee who has to report to the leaders, and help manage WKH�VWXGHQW�WHDP��6RPHRQH�PD\EH�ZKR·V�OHIW�VFKRRO�DQG�JRQH�WR�XQLYHUVLW\�ZKR·V�done RSIS before or a student from the host school or local school in the Project FRXQWU\��,W·V�UHDOO\�YDOXDEOH�WR�KDYH�ORFDO�students on the project who add a cultural GLPHQVLRQ�WKDW·V�RWKHUZLVH�ORVW���WKH\�FDQ�talk to the team about their country, do tours of areas that they know and can add a huge DPRXQW�WR�WKH�RWKHU�VWXGHQWV·�H[SHULHQFH���,I�\RX·YH�VKRZLQJ�\RXU�KRPH�WR�SHRSOH�from overseas, then it gives you a more meaningful experience....it becomes a new way to see your own home.

Why do you keep coming back to do more Projects?%HFDXVH�WKH\·UH�WRWDOO\�DGGLFWLYH����56,6�in particular foster a more sophisticated and profound example of why the IDEALS are inherent in being a global citizen. All the components of the IDEALS is found in each RSIS trip. The nature of the trip and the group make them so addictive - with our group in Romania, they talked a lot about what service really entails, talked about democracy and leadership and it was a real highlight of the trip. The trip is a vehicle to live the IDEALS and they way they interact is so special.

If money were no object and you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do there? ,�ZRXOG�ORYH�WR�JR�WR�-DSDQ��ÀQG�RXW�ZKDW�those wood block prints are really trying to represent, go to temples, eat sushi, meditate, see the tea ceremony in action, go to the mountains and would love to be a part of the Shinto lifestyle.

Or.....I would go to Iceland, and go walk around the whole country with a backpack full of gear. I would love to see the earth spewing lava and ash out of the ground, see volcanoes, swim in the freezing ocean....see “what the earth was like before we were here”.

:KLFK�DFWRU�ZRXOG�SOD\�\RX�LQ�D�ÀOP�about your life, and what would the title RI�WKH�ÀOP�EH"�Jude Law would play me! As for the title, ZHOO�,�KDYHQ·W�OLYHG�HQRXJK�RI�P\�OLIH�\HW�WR�NQRZ�ZKDW�WKH�WLWOH�RI�WKH�ÀOP�ZRXOG�EH�

We have a new India Project this year, in partnership with Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS) in Mumbai. They have been running their own service programme “Empowering Rural India” for several years, providing infrastructure and support to needy villages in Maharashtra.

The RSIS team this year will be travelling to one of their Project villages - Khumbharghar which is about 3 hours outside Mumbai. They will be building a small 3-room school for the community which will provide the only education anyone in the village has ever had. The school will be made out “rammed earth” bricks which the villagers will make

themselves. The community is a small tribal one that is caught between traditional ways of life, and the demands of the modern ZRUOG��7KH\�GRQ·W�RZQ�DQ\�ODQG�so they cannot earn money through agricultural activity. Instead, they have to collect ÀUHZRRG�WR�VHOO�LQ�PDUNHWV��or work for money lenders so earning potential is bleak and WKH\�FDQQRW�ÀQG�PRQH\�IRU�HYHQ�the most basic houses.

During the mid-project break, the team will go on a trek in the Western Ghats around Matheran, and after the Project the team will take the train up to Agra and visit the Taj Mahal, Red Fort and other sites in Rajasthan!

Projects DECEMBER 2013

India

We have a new Project in Cambodia this year. The team will be based up near Siem Reap in the north of the country, and working with a local team whose “parent” organization is Camps International based in the UK. They work with communities all over the world providing schools, community centres, water storage systems and environmental collaborations. The team will be based at their camp in Beng Mealea where they will be working with the community to refurbish school facilities, and also helping with developing a tree nursery and experimental “jungle garden”.

The local employees of Camps International will be with the team throughout providing great insights into local life and overseeing links with the village.

Mid-way through the project work, the team will go on a 3-day trek in Kulen National Park, walking over a plateau, past waterfalls and half-buried statues and ancient temples. They will spend each night in hammocks near communities and go into the forest with local guides to learn DERXW�WKH�ÁRUD�DQG�IDXQD�LQ�WKH�area, as well as the history of the ruins in the Park.

After the project work is over, the team will enjoy some time exploring the World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat!

Cambodia

Our group is returning again to work with the Pakanyor Foundation in remote Karen hill-tribe villages in northern Thailand. The team will be at the village of Ban Sob Pha Luang, around 3.5 hours from Chiang Mai and spending 10 days in the village damming a water-source and laying buried pipes from the source down to the village (this could be several kilometres!). Then having built sturdy foundations, the team will build 2 concrete, covered water

tanks which will provide clean drinking water for the villagers who otherwise have no way of storing clean water.

As with the previous 2 years, WKLV�\HDU·V�WHDP�ZLOO�FRQVLVW�RI�younger students (aged 14 and 15) with one parent each. The formula has worked extremely well in the last 2 years, providing parent and student with a valuable experience they can share, and also giving adults a taste of what RSIS Projects are all about!

Thailand

The RSIS Kenya Project this year is new, having spent the last 3 years at Riandira Primary School in Sagana. This year, we are partnering with local organization Moving Mountains Trust. The Trust works with communities to help develop schools and community projects that empower local people all over Kenya. They do a lot of work in the slum areas around Nairobi especially, providing young people with the tools and skills to take themselves and their families out of the poverty trap. 90% of the Moving Mountains staff are previous EHQHÀFLDULHV�RI�WKH�7UXVW·V�ZRUN�

This year, the team will have a duel focus on the Project work. They will be doing some work refurbishing classrooms at Maluga Primary and Barkatandu Primary. These schools are as basic as you can imagine – often made out of mud, without doors or windows and with virtually no resources. So the team will be repairing existing facilities, plastering and painting

walls, installing windows and hopefully installing furniture too. The other main activity will be focused on learning more about what sustainable development really is, understanding how long-term projects aid community ownership go hand-in-hand DQG�KRZ�WR�EULQJ�WUXH�EHQHÀW�WR�communities through service work.

$IWHU�WKH�ZRUN�LV�ÀQLVKHG��WKH�team will go to Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha to go spotting wildlife, and will cycle or walk to the gorge in Hells Gate National Park!

Kenya

7KLV�LV�WKH�ÀUVW�\HDU�WKDW�ZH·YH�run a Project in Nicaragua and ZH�FRXOGQ·W�EH�PRUH�H[FLWHG��7KH�team will be based in a jungle river community down in the south of the country, near the border with Costa Rica. The community is El Castillo, a village founded almost 400 years ago and it boasts one of the oldest colonial buildings in Nicaragua – a fortress built in 1673 as a defence against English pirates!

The team will be working in partnership with a local organization that works with youth and communities on various projects including conservation and environmental issues, community development, training and helping local economies to give them more sustainable long-term earning power.

The team will be building bridges and boardwalks in the outlying parts of the community. Given that this is a jungle village on the edge of a river, the terrain is extremely muddy and swampy, and some of the people in outlying DUHDV�ÀQG�LW�YHU\�GLIÀFXOW�WR�JHW�around. This prevents some of the children from getting to school

easily, and makes it very hard for some to earn a living. So the team will be building 400m of walkway from cement and wood, and also three bridges that will span 3 small rivers. The group will be in home-stays with local families all of whom are used to hosting foreign visitors and who will form an integral part of the JURXS·V�FRPPXQLW\�DQG�FXOWXUDO�experience.

During the trip, the team will also have some local language lessons, visits to the local school, visit to the cocoa production cooperative and a visit to the

Nicaragua

Notice Board

The teams in July completed:

- a new kindergarten school in Yunca

chimpa, Peru

- a mountain trail; repairs to a her

itage site and 18

new benches for a First Nations Co

mmunity in

northern British Columbia, Canada

- a new kitchen for Entokozweni Scho

ol near White

River, South Africa

- new dormitory rooms for Lamdom Sch

ool, Thiksey,

Ladakh- most of the yout

h fitness centre and a new wall for

the primary school in Baisoara, Ro

mania

PAPF StatisticsOn July 2013 RSIS Projects we spent:- £4,000 (plus an anonymous donation) on the new kitchen in South Africa- £4,000 on new dormitory rooms for the school in Ladakh- £6,200 on the new kindergarten in Peru- £1,012 on benches in Canada���������RQ�WKH�\RXWK�ÀWQHVV�FHQWUH�LQ�5RPDQLDThank you for all your help raising funds for the PAPF! Your money makes a massive difference to our partner communities all over the world!

a local project dedicated to conserving the Green Macaw. Mid-way through the Project, WKH�WHDP�ZLOO�JR�RQ�D�IXOO�GD\·V�kayaking in the Indio Maiz Reserve and will get a fantastic adventure paddling through the jungle which hosts an enormous array of animals and plant-life.

A really fantastic trip which will take adventurous students into a really unique, friendly, beautiful and environmentally diverse part of Central America!

Opportunities on December

RSIS Projects

We still have spaces left for students and adults on the December RSIS Projects in Cambodia, Thailand,

Nicaragua, Kenya and India.

However, we cannot at this time take any more students from the Australasia Region on the Cambodia or India

Projects – however, if you are interested, we are operating a wait-list for those students and vacancies may come up

before departure!

We also have vacancies for accompanying adults on all the December Projects. The ÀUVW�DFFRPSDQ\LQJ�DGXOW�RQ�

each trip receives a 50% discount on the fee!

Further to this, we have vacancies for Leaders on all the Projects except Thailand! So if you or any of your staff

are interested, please contact Liz on liz@roundsquare.org

as soon as possible!

E-mails

We are in the process of moving over to new

email addresses, so from now on please use

the following:

For Liz Gray (RSIS Projects Manager)

liz@roundsquare.org

For Clare Coverdale (Admin Assistant)

clare@roundsquare.org

Surreal event of the summer

Two of the Peru team members had

a surreal end to their trip when

they were stopped at immigration

at

Cusco airport to have their bags

thoroughly searched, and asked i

f

they were carrying any chickens!

Strangely enough, they weren’t b

ut

it’s prompted us to wonder wheth

er

the poultry police were looking

to

uncover a chicken-smuggling ring

in

southern Peru!

� �� Nerds Corner

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

Here are some seminars and course that your might be interested in attending �LI�\RX�OLYH�LQ�WKHVH�DUHDV���

6DIHW\�GRHVQ·W�KDSSHQ�E\�DFFLGHQW�

Royal Geographical Society in London, UK http://www.rgs.org/OurWork/Fieldwork+and+Expeditions/GO+seminars+and+workshops/Workshops+Safe+and+effective+ÀHOG�UHVHDUFK�H[SHGLWLRQ�KWP

([SORUH�������15 to 17 November Lectures, workshops and exhibits to help organize your own H[SHGLWLRQV�DQG�ÀHOG�WULSV�

Off-site Safety Management Training 3 & 4 December 2013 and 4 & 5 February 2014 Relevant to those organizing education visits (teachers, youth leaders, trip leaders)Educational Visits Coordinator Training$LPHG�DW�QHZO\�DSSRLQWHG�(9&·V�ORRNLQJ�DW�UROHV�DQG�responsibilities, risk management, supervision and competence.

View from Seat 43A:HOO�LW·V�EHHQ�D�YHU\�TXLHW��VWDEOH�\HDU�VR�IDU�IRU�/L]�²�KHU�XVXDO�JOREDO�trotting stopped by a nasty ear problem for 6 months! However, from the middle of August Liz has been able to get back on a plane and will be making up for it by doing a fair amount of moving around at the end of this year! In August Liz went over to India for a week to run a Leader Training Workshop for teachers in the SE Asia and Gulf Region. The event was hosted by the kind people at Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai and delegates were treated to talks about risk management, leader selection, project planning and various scenarios designed to put their learning to the test. Following the Workshop, Liz travelled to Khumbharghar, a few hours outside Mumbai to look at the December RSIS Project site, inspect accommodation and take a look at the trek area in the Western Ghats. A short trip – but very worthwhile! In early September, Liz will be taking part in a 5-day course run by the British Standards Institute “Lead Auditor Training Course” for ISO 9001:2008. 7KLV�FRXUVH�LV�H[WUHPHO\�LQWHQVH��OLNHQHG��E\�FROOHDJXHV�WR�WDNLQJ�ÀQDO�\HDU�school course and exams in one week!) and is designed to teach auditing skills and reporting. In essence, this will equip Liz with further skills to evaluate, audit and report on project and operational planning not only for Round Square but for our wider membership in time. In October Liz will be taking part in the international conference at Saint Andrews School, and in December will be travelling to the Far East for a ��ZHHN�WULS��+HU�ÀUVW�VWRS�LV�7KDLODQG�ZKHUH�/L]�ZLOO�EH�UXQQLQJ�D���GD\�Leader Training Workshop for teachers from the Australasia Region, hosted at Regents School, Pattaya. After this, Liz travels to Cambodia to run a 2-week Leader Training Workshop and Projects for teachers from all over the world. At the end of January 2014, Liz will be travelling to Canada to take part in WKH�$PHULFD·V�5HJLRQDO�&RQIHUHQFH�LQ�2QWDULR��DQG�LV�YHU\�PXFK�ORRNLQJ�forward to swapping the hot climes of her 2013 travels, with the ice and snow of Canada in January!

Leader Training in 2013There are several opportunities for Leader Training

Workshops this year. The workshops focus on providing delegates with skills relating to selection of suitable projects, selecting leaders and participants, risk management issues,

leadership, training and evaluation of projects. They are suitable for any teacher who is planning or

leading their own school or Regional Projects, and/or those interested in leading RSIS trips in future.

Australasia Region 2-day Workshop - Dec 4th & 5th (hosted by Regents School, Pattaya)

Details will be launched in September, including cost and other logistics.

Leader Training Workshop and Project - Dec 7th & 22nd (2 week trip - Cambodia)

This is a 2-day Workshop followed by a 10-day Project to put the Workshop learning into practice (the group will be building

a weaving-centre for the women of a remote rural community to learn a trade and earn their own income).

Details have been launched already, and there are still spaces for teachers coming from the Americas and Africa in particular. There are one or two places for teachers coming from Europe,

SE Asia and Gulf or Australasia Regions.

Please contact Liz for more info:E-mail: liz@roundsquare.org

Or take a look at the website: http://www.roundsquare.org/projects/leader.php

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA http://www.nols.edu/wrmc/NOLS Wilderness Risk Management Conference 2013 An excellent meeting of like-minded outdoor experts offering workshops and talks on exploring, working, teaching and recreating in wild places! $VVRFLDWLRQ�IRU�([SHULHQWLDO�(GXFDWLRQ��86$ http://www.aee.orgAnnual International Conference: Oct 31 to Nov 2, Denver, Colorado.,6((1��,QGHSHQGHQW�6FKRROV�([SHULHQWLDO�(GXFDWLRQ�1HWZRUN���Canada http://iseeninfo.com/2014_Institute.php9th Annual ISEEN conference will be hosted by Appleby College, Ontario, Canada from Jan 15 to 18, 2014.