09G (5 Weekers) Project Manager Training Continues...and project allocations for the PMs!

Having survived jungle camp the 09G PMs are continuing with their intensive Project Manager Training. Sessions are run in our handy classroom – today’s lesson was all about self-awareness – what sort of leader are you and what assets can you bring to a team?
The PMs filled out a brief online questionnaire, similar to many psychometric tests used by employers, to demonstrate the different styles and abilities within the group. This was used as a discussion starter to think about what kind of qualities are needed by a PM on Raleigh.

Julian, Julia, Alex, Jana and Sandrine in the classroom

Ross, Rachel, Maja and Freya listen carefully

Julian and Kate

Oli, our training expert and glorious leader writing up the lesson plan

Jana, Rachel, Freya and Kate in discussion

In a swift energiser Jana tests out his dance moves on the ladies...

...causing Rachel and Freya to burst out laughing

...but Jana has nothing on our Julian and Ross (in terms of silly dancing that is!)

Next Oli led a session on ‘Body Mapping’ – this made the PMs think about what kind of reactions they had to emotions such as anger, stress and hurt(also an excuse to draw cartoons of themselves). They discussed how they coped with these emotions back in the ‘Real World’ and how they might need to adapt these coping methods while dealing with the rigours of a Raleigh expedition.

Oli expressing herself

The PMs were also treated to a session in the Bodega on tools. In Costa Rica the words for spade and shovel are they same...they call a pala, a pala.

Sandrine, Charlie and Julia digesting the tools talk

Project Allocations
The 09G-ers have also found out the crucial information of which project they will run – and who with!

09G has three projects for this expedition. Julian, Oli, Ross and I (Rachel) visited these at the beginning of June.

Delta 3 is in Barbilla National Park, restoring a dilapidated and tricky trail running from the Ranger Station down to the river and swimming hole. This project will set up its own ‘jungle camp’ – living alongside the wildlife, and will have the luxury of its own private pool to cool off in every day.

Ross and Oli testing out the pool on our planning visit

Julian standing tall on the steep trail

The other two projects are located in the Tayni Indigenous Reserve (it is a stunningly beautiful place). Both these projects will work alongside the local communities to build schools for the children. Each project includes a 5 or 6 hour walk into the communities, as Tayni has few roads that are passable by bus!

Cuchey Church, currently being used as a school - Julian and Ross discussing plans with the community, who talk amongst themselves in their native language of Cabecar.

Below is Bajo Coen's current school - the venturers will build a proper structure that will shelter them from the rain and sun.

All the projects are in fantastic surroundings and will prove to be wonderful experiences for the PMs and Venturers. So here's who go what;

Delta 1 = Kate Piggot (Medic), Rachel Beresford (Interpreter) and Alex O’Connor
Delta 2 = Freya Godfrey, Charlie Hufton (Interpreter) and Julia Bartliff
Delta 3 = Jana Suntharanathan (Medic) and Sandrine Paillasse

Deltas 1, 2, and 3 are currently out on their Project Planning Visits, so we will have more details and photos of their projects soon.