13A's induction is over: now the hard work really begins!

Expedition 13A is now well under way - yesterday saw all of our teams deploy to their respective projects but not before a big day of packing and planning which all culminated in an amazing evening of inspirational talks from our Country Team of Julian, Pedro and Simon.

The evening ended with a wonderful slideshow of what our teams had done since arriving; an intensive period of learning and challenges for all but it is amazing what can be achieved with a lot of hard work and a go for it attitude from every member of expedition.

We thought you would love to see what everyone has been up to - so here is our Venturer Induction video, put together by our incredible and very talented photographer Liz:

Today is Day 1 of Phase 1 and Alpha's 1 to 10 will be beginning their projects across Costa Rica and Nicaragua - we will bring you lots more updates over the coming days and weeks from our Project Communications Officers, Venturers who have volunteered to be our bloggers on project. This will hopefully give you an idea about what it is like to be a Raleigh International Volunteer, the projects that are undertaken and how Raleigh ensures their sustainability, the themes we are discussing (for Phase 1 it is Social Justice leading upto UN World Social Justice Day on the 20th February) and furthermore the outcomes we hope to achieve.

Find out more about the Raleigh's Project Framework by clicking here >

Finally, a big thank you to everyone for the amazing support we have had so far and for your comments on the blog and just a quick reminder that if you are posting a comment for a volunteer on expedition just make sure you tell us their full name and team.

Pura Vida!

Alpha Project Allocations: Phase 1

Raleigh International aim to have young people from a variety of backgrounds, nationalities and life stages on each expedition. Furthermore we hope all our volunteers are individuals who are open to new experiences and cultures; are team-players who want to develop leadership skills; and are motivated to make a difference to local communities.

Expedition 13A's first 19 Day phase begins on Sunday 3rd February, when all of our teams will deploy to their respective projects: find out all about our projects by clicking here >  (or click on the team titles below for more information) The 3 types of project are Adventure, Community and Environment, so to our first phase teams, drumroll please...

Alpha 1 to 3: Adventure

Each trek covers 250kms in 19 days. Learning navigation, camping and survival skills along the way; teamwork, determination, a good sense of humour and talent for games are essential.  The 4am starts, tough climbs and up to 10 hours trekking a day are all made worthwhile when rewarded with incredible views, abundant wildlife and an enormous sense of achievement upon arrival at the beautiful beaches.

Alpha 1 - The Coast to Coast Trek, Costa Rica

The refried beans 'frijoles' challenge - 10 seconds to eat as many as possible

Led by Project Managers (PMs) Sarah and Colin, Alpha 1 are (clockwise from top left): Billy, Robin, Adelina, Philipp, Rosina, Angus, Colin, Fay, Jeff, Sarah, Ellie, Tabs, Luke (not in picture) and Maykel

Alpha 2 - Corcovado Trek, Costa Rica

Led by Project Managers Chris and Sarah Alpha 2 are:

Clockwise from top left: Alex, Ben, Charlotte, Sarah, Lewis, Anouk, Chris, Flavia, Frances, Catharine, Natasha, Luis, Charlie and Dom

Alpha 3 - Turrisantos Trek, Costa Rica

Led by PMs Gemma and James (clockwise from top right): Gemma, Dougie, Kieron, Imi, Jac, Nelson, Con, Denise, Jaap, Daniela, James, Emily, Rachel, Freddie, Leonie and Katy

PM James, getting Alpha 3 in the spirit

Alpha 4 to 6: Environmental - Ensuring Environmental Sustainability

Working with SINAC (System of National Conservation Areas), the environmental groups live and work alongside the park rangers to help maintain and improve the region’s national parks and wildlife refuges. The projects are hugely important in supporting UN Millenium Development Goal 7: Ensuring environmental sustainability - helping preserve natural resources and habitats, and protect important species of plants and animals. 

Alpha 4 - Carara National Park, Costa Rica

Objectives: Maintaining and creating new trails in the park, increasing tourist numbers and ensuring income for the park and local economy. 

The Carara crocodile being allocated her prey

Alpha 4 led by PMs Louise and Emma (clockwise from top left): Louise, Emma, Emilie, Hidde, Jos, Ben, Cecilia, Josh, George, Ollie, Celine, Emma, Amy, Adriana and Henry 

Alpha 5 - San Lucas Island Costa Rica

Objectives: Environemental Protection Project - creating new trail, development of visitor centre.

Alpha 5 led by PMs Sally, Paul, Kate and Artist Holly (clockwise from top left): Holly, Greg, Charlie, Sally, Charlotte, Jade, Nick, Emily, Anna, Matt, Job, Gina, Ollie, Ben, Kate and Paul

Alpha 6 - Cabo Blanco, Costa Rica

Objectives: Environmental Sustainability Project - working alongside park rangers to maintain park infrastructure.

PMs Clive & Zoe

Alpha 6 led by PMs Clive & Zoe (clockwise from top left): Nacho, James, Lilly, Jelmer, James, Abi, Izzy, Dom, Tom, Ottie, Alex, Adriana, Zoe and Clive.

Alpha 7 to 10: Community - Sustainable Development

Living in the heart of some of the most remote areas of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, these projects provide a unique opportunity to work alongside members of the communities to provide basic facilities such as access to clean water and education. The hard work of the Raleigh groups helps to improve the quality of life and provide valuable resources for the many generations to come.

Alpha 7 - Matapalo, Achuapa, Niaragua

Objectives: UN Millenium Development Goal to improve the health of the community through education in water sanitation and installation of a gravity water feed.

Led by PMs Lena and Antonio (clockwise from top left): Lena, Mark, Sarah, Mat, Robbie, Willie, Nina, Matt, Nina, Charlie, Berny, Antonio and Seb

Alpha 8 - Siares, San Ramon, Nicaragua

Objectives: UN Millenium Development Goal 2: Universal Primary Education, Alpha 8 will be building a pre-school, installing two latrines and a water standpipe.

Led by PMs Dav, Denise and Marie (clockwise from top left): Thomas, Alex, Merle, Jess, Mary, Tom, Denise, Marie, Ella, Anthony, Harini, Victor, Dav and Rakeem

Alpha 9 - Conte Burika, Costa Rica

Objectives: Health Improvement Project, building a health post in a remote indigenous society. This project hopes to improve the overall health of the community in treating conditions from respiratory issues to malnutrition.

Led by PMs Helena, Katharine and Shane (clcokwise from top left): Wisha, Drew, Flo, Katinka, Philip, Bella, Kieran, Cas, Don, Helena, Kate, Kat, Shane and Roger

Alpha 10 - Arenilla, Miraflor, Nicaragua

Objectives: Creating sustainable housing using natural materials which ensures the local community can repair the properties themselves.

Led by PMs Sacha, Vic and Angie (clcokwise from top left): Sacha, Villo, Henry, Iona, Michelle, Laeticia, Anders, Joe, Vic, Flo, Glyn, Elpha, Alejandra and Angie

Find out more about the projects, our partners and objectives here or by clicking on the team title.

The magic sorting hat of Turrialba

Each PM, as nervous as any new wizard to Hogwarts, took the stage to don the sorting hat of project selection.  How will the hat pronounce?  Will it be environmental, community or a trek?  Who will be your team mate/s?  Only the magic hat can decide.

Jae receiving pronouncement from the sorting hat

In a Harry Potter/Ready, Steady, Cook mixed metaphor the first task for the new teams was to create a pudding with store cupboard ingredients in 20 minutes - marks awarded for taste and presentation of the dish.

Pedro and Barney - judging pudding

Alpha 2 succeeded on taste - with David (call me Heston) and Claudia presenting a tropical flapjack.  Alpha 1 took presentation to extravaganza levels by bringing bunny ears and gold sequins to the table.  Fieldbase scored for team effort with Phil being the actual table, Joss being the waiter and the girls providing the crunchy bottom, fruity layer, velvety chocolate and zesty topping of their Fieldbase Fantasy.

Alpha 5 in the dance off

It all had to be decided with a dance off and Fieldbase pipped the competition at the post.  There may have been strength in numbers, and we have had an extra week to bond - but personally I put it down to sheer skill and creativity.

So, now fully bonded over cooking and dancing, the teams are assembled and ready to go.  The running order for the Project Groups is as follows:
Alpha 1 - Coast to Coast Trek, Costa RicaNicole, Dave and Natalie
This Trek has taken various forms over the past few years, but Expedition 12L will feature a particularly exciting version, starting at the Caribbean Sea and ending on the Pacific Coast.  Crossing a continent as well as a country.

Nicole, Dave and Natalie - Alpha 1

Alpha 2  - Miratombo Trek, Nicaragua 
David and Claudia
Starting in the far north of Nicaragua, near to the Honduran border, the Miratombo Trek meanders through the diverse landscapes of Esteli and Leon.

David and Claudia - Alpha 2

Alpha 3 - Environmental, starting in Hermosa, Costa Rica
Jim, Clare and Tracy H
Working to preserve the turtle populations of Hermosa beach, this project will collect turtle eggs, ensure that they hatch safely and release the turtles back into the wild where they have the best chance of survival.  This team will spend the second half of their phase at Carara National Park (see below).

Jim, Clare and Tracy - Alpha 3

Alpha 4 - Environmental, starting in Carara National Park, Costa Rica
Pauline, Jae and Sarah
Starting in the Carara National Park this group will work to clear the Lago Meandrica trail, previously inaccessible in the rainy season.  This work will enable many more visitors to the park, and therefore increase the revenue for the Park and allowing them to continue their other environmental work. This team will spend the second half of their phase at Hermosa (see above). Where they will be joined by Charlie.

Jae, Sarah, Pauline and Charlie in the background - Alpha 4

Alpha 5 - Achuapa water project, Nicaragua
Sarah,  Florian and Vic
This project group will work with the local community of Los Loros in Achuapa to develop a gravity-feed water system to bring clean and safe drinking water to 40 families living there.

Sarah, Florian and Vic - Alpha 5

Word! The final one from Alphas' phase one

It's been a whirlwind two days! The Alphas arrived back in fieldbase....and left again at 7am this morning! They've showered, laundered, eaten well, shopped for essentials (i.e. sweets and treats), performed skits for their projects (and won prizes):

They've partied:

and they've de-briefed and re-grouped (more about that in the next post coming soon).

So without further ado, here's the final word from the Alphas' phase one projects. Put the kettle on, get the biccies out, and settle down - it's gonna be a long one...

Alpha 1- Corcovado Trek, Costa Rica

By Jenni McGowan and Eliana Leon

We made it! 215km [give or take a couple of unintentional detours]. 19 days. 13 amazing new friends. And one unforgettable experience. There was an unfamiliar combination of joy, pride, relief, but also sadness as we retraced our 15 days trekking from the comfort of the minibus this morning. Fond memories of afternoon naps outside supermarkets, scoffing piles of fresh fruit and sprints across rickety bridges, along with not so fond memories of all the bushes that we had used as toilets, came flooding back.

Back at fieldbase, the heat of the boiling sun shining down on us as we trekked our final 30km along the stunning black sand of the Corcavado Coast now feels like some kind of dream. But we were there. With our trails of footprints through the sand; feeling like the only 14 people in the world.

We all agreed that the final days were our best. The flat terrain that we’d all been praying for and the fact that the end was in sight certainly helped. Entering Corcovado National Park on Day 14 was such a fantastic feeling. It was what we’d all been waiting for, and the beautiful, dense jungle and the sight of the coast left us with an indescribable sense of achievement. By this point, we had all developed, both physically and mentally but, most importantly, Alpha 1 had become one big happy family. Like family, you don’t choose your trek group, but you trust, love and support them through thick and thin. (Except of course, when the sharing of Tang is concerned or in our scarily competitive games of Mafia.)

Never again will we watch in awe as Rolando sprints his way up yet another vertical mountain. Never will we have the crazed hungry scramble for Hazel’s breakfast leftovers. And never will we all get so ridiculously excited by the prospect of a second ‘energy bomb’. But- apart from Martha and Jenni, who have vowed never to climb another hill ever- the next time an Alpha 1 member finds themselves on a steep incline or in any kind of difficulty, they will surely hear Brie’s motivational cries and the beautiful, echoing chorus of 'I Will Survive' and will be able to accomplish anything.

Thank you Alpha 1 for an amazing trek!

Alpha 2 - Guanacaste Trek, Costa Rica

By Max Chalong

When Alpha 2 were told that they would be trekking for the first phase they were immediately gripped by a feeling of apprehension and the tension could be felt almost immediately. We questioned our fitness and were gripped by the curiosity of what was to come but the Guanacaste trek did not disappoint.

Despite being faced with blisters the size of toes, aching bones and joints, Jonny’s gammy foot, ever changing weather conditions and tick infestations in unmentionable areas, Alpha 2 came together and battled its way over 270 km across Costa Rica’s varying, harsh and beautiful landscape.

We climbed volcanoes, tackled cloud forest, trudged through rivers and, in spite of the efforts of the legendary Don Luce, slipped and stumbled head-first through the rainforest fuelled by porridge, nuts, ‘Energy Bombs’ and the infamous ‘Refried Beans’.

Our evenings, however, were considerably less stressful and we were able to form lifelong bonds reflecting on the day’s achievements while taking in some spectacular views as the sun set, star gazing on a paradise of a beach, going for a swim or dancing the night away at 8 pm on a hill in the countryside to the sound of monkeys, racoons, bats and Katy B.

Alpha 2 witnessed the best and worst the Costa Rica had to offer and, despite emerging with three integral members less than we started with, had some truly amazing, once in a lifetime experiences.
‘We remember but we don’t cry, we don’t cry but we remember’ – Tito, Alpha 2.

Alpha 3 - Cabo Blanco Costa Rican environmental project

By Sophie Abdy

From a mooring to a cesspit Alpha 3 has had an extremely busy and productive phase 1 in Cabo Blanco. On Monday in particular after seven hours digging, moving rocks from the beach and laying a pipe, it was amazing to see how keen everybody was to finish the cesspit for the main volunteer house and it was very rewarding to see the whole team work together so well.

Our day off included a visit to a beautiful waterfall near Montasuma and a cultural trip to a festival in Cabano. Here we enjoyed some local food and watched the bull parade which was made particularly amusing by Christine being offered a ride on a cart. Finally, skit production was well underway for changeover including the Alpha 3 rap:

HE'S JUST A HARMSTER A DIZZY HARMSTER!
This is a story about how alpha 3 turned Cabo Blanco all around.

So take your PM and sit right there cause we are the venturers of Raleigh

Here’s Ann our Red Dutch lobster,  Een Lekkerding op een bordje boter

Anita Bonita moves like a snake but pass her any spider and she’ll scream TARANTULA!

Hanging with Angie is like a chi master she brings you in the zone with no disaster.

Yeah we got Alex the master chef but under the hat he smells like a loser

Adam’s swagger a bucket of rocks surrounded by hot girls even more than Ross

Say Ni Hao Bianca our little Samarai she maybe small but she fights sky high!

Daniel our one and only tico acting like a pimp whilst being Rico!

Josseling Entusiasta por toso el paisaje y por esa le decimos !Que Saluaja!

Yuri she’s slipping she’s falling she can’t get up with bruises on her face she still laughs her head off!

Sophie, our bikini girl dancing on the beach till the sun goes down!
Christine’s got her own moves dancing the iguana will set you loose!

Asia she makes the boys drool she sets the law of being cool!

Jakhya SHES JUST A CRAZY CHICK!

Alpha 4 – La Cangreja trail building, Costa Rica

By Cat Ewins

Hola Amigos, jungle gal again. Some gossip from the rainforest as Alpha 4 said goodbye to their bamboo paradise.

The team had a scare when Costa Rica’s deadliest snake encountered Alpha 4’s official snake hunter during a toilet trip he’ll never forget.  From the man himself, Charlie: ‘calling (PM) Phil for help on the toilet made me feel uneasy but our relationship was about to reach a new level as he rushed to the rescue with Sander’.

Next was the move back up top where a feast awaited the Jungle Massive (complete with cake and cola). The evening concluded with a chess tournament in which Don Boliver, our head ranger, beat the venturers 4-0.

An early morning sunrise over La Cangreja made for an emotional goodbye as Alpha 4 thanked volunteer Himel, and rangers Don Boliver, Don Paulino, Don Guido and Don Efrien for their kindness and generosity.

Anabella summed up the mood, in Spanish:

Triste despedido, como dueles, la nostalgia de los momento vividos invaden nuestras almas, ya no somos desconocidos ya somos parientes en la lucha por la protección de nuestra mama tierra.

In English: what a sad farewell, how it pains us, the nostalgia of the moments we’ve lived together invade our souls; no longer are we strangers – now we are partners in the battle to protect our mother earth.

 Adios from Alpha 4, Pura Vida!

Alpha 5 Nicaraguan community project

By Caroline Murray

The last couple of days in San Marquena were spent finishing the water supply. After many long days of digging trenches in the extreme Nicaraguan heat, we moved onto pipe laying. It was amazing to see how quickly it all came together. Before we knew it our own houses had taps with fresh water right on their doorstep.  It was such an achievement to turn on the first tap and see clean water. After living the lives of these families for two and a half weeks we could suddenly appreciate how exciting this was. Knowing that they no longer have to walk twenty minutes twice a day, just for fresh water.

 
On the last night the whole village came together and threw a leaving party for us. The night was spent with Alpha 5 throwing some very embarrassing dance moves with the locals and speeches of thanks from our families. 

I know I speak for everyone when I say that this has been an experience of a lifetime. It was so lovely to have such a close group! Our time in San Marquena went so quickly, but we all cannot wait for a real shower!

Thanks Alpha 5 for a great few weeks!

Alpha 6 Nicaraguan community project

By Camilla O’Connell

After the first week, we soon settled into the routine of waking up to grind corn for the day’s tortillas, have our breakfast of beans, sometimes egg and the best coffee ever, and working on the building site. Most week days, three of us would go to the local school to give the children English Lessons. In addition, we also taught the local children in the afternoons. This was a great way to see how our being there benefited the community, not just because we were building a community centre. It also helped our Spanish!

Our working days ended by watching the ever awesome Noel (our ‘maestro de obras’ or ‘site foreman’) riding off into the sunset, after which we would go back to our families for a dinner of yet more beans, rice and tortillas.

We spent the evenings getting to know our families or playing a game of mafia. By day five we were ahead of schedule which meant that by the end of the phase we could paint a mural, beautifully artistically directed by Rosie, on one of the community centre walls.

On our days off we went on two trips with the brilliant guidance of some locals. On our first one we climbed a volcano and saw some amazing views of the surrounding areas. On the second we went to Noel’s home town of San Ramon via the rainforest to see a previous Raleigh project. On the last night we had our second fiesta of the phase. It was the perfect way to end the phase and the next morning we started on the two day journey back to fieldbase.

  
Next up: find out which Alpha's are heading where in Phase 2.