Wandsworth students travel to Morocco to complete Duke of Edinburgh (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Wandsworth students travel to Morocco to complete Duke of Edinburgh

10:00am Sunday 30th September 2012 in News By Hannah Williamson

Thirty-four students from a Wandsworth school travelled to Morocco to complete their Duke of Edinburgh Awards this summer.

The sixth form students from Graveney School had to raise their own money to fund their trip.

The group took part in a variety of adventures as participated in life at a Berber village called Tachedirt.

The village, which got electricity within the last five years and a road in the last two years, is the highest village in North Africa according to villagers.

During their stay students helped to rebuild part of the local primary school, dig pipe trenches and a soak away for the new wash house, as well as building a path for the elderly to access the road more easily.

Hinesh Patel, 17, said: "The residential part of the expedition was inspiration and exciting."

As part of the trip, students also had to complete a four day trek across the mountains, where they camped out each night and cooked their own meals.

Each day saw them climb at least the equivalent of Ben Nevis. Ellen Wisnia 17, said: "The trek was hard work but really good fun."

Camilla Bowker, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Co-ordinator said: "It was great to see the students really getting stuck into Berber life and learning so much about a different culture whilst coping with the difficult conditions of the high desert environment.

"They worked really hard and the abundance of laughter of the students and their new Berber friends told me they had a fantastic time doing it."

It is hoped that the school will run another expedition in 2014.