The week before the 'horsey' one came home at Christmas she had an adventure with a difference. The school she is at in the UK has an association with a charity Affecting Real Change and has projects in Gambia in Africa and in India. They take groups of students each year to work on these and a limited amount of the Gap students get an opportunity to accompany them. The 'horsey' one went on a trip to Gambia and had a rewarding week but one that opened her eyes to the conditions that other people live in. They were divided into 3 groups, one worked at the hospital cleaning and painting children's wards, they saw children with terrible burns and illnesses. The other 2 groups worked at a school, one group putting windows into a classroom and the 'horsey' ones group preparing for a new toilet block. In the hot sun they dug with shovels and picks a hole 2.5 m deep for a new septic to go in. She said the hardest part was getting the dirt out of the hole as it got deeper. They then mixed concrete and made bricks by hand that will form the building. The rest of it will be completed by others but they made a difference getting that done. They slept in a classroom on a concrete floor. She said they were ok, they had food to eat and water to drink and these purchases helped the community but she realised the children from the school were not so lucky. Although these kids have nothing they are always smiling and happy, a lesson we could all take on board. Another amazing opportunity she has had. I am so proud of her.
