PUPILS from Roedean School have completed a 3,000ft trek in the Himalayas.
By Acacia Redding and Andre Rhoden-Paul for the Argus.
The girls prepared and fundraised for the trip for two years and in Au- gust they set off for Nepal.
They enjoyed a five-day mountain trek, passing through subtropical and alpine forests full of diverse wildlife, with glimpses of the world- famous snow-capped peaks of the Annapurna mountain range.
Their evenings were filled with stories from their Sherpa guides.
During their travels, the Brighton schoolgirls experienced a taste of Nepali culture. They visited Kopan Monastery overlooking the Kathmandu Valley, where they meditated and taught the monks a little English.
They also celebrated the Dalai La- ma’s birthday in a Tibetan refugee camp, where they enjoyed a unique cultural exchange, performing a traditional Scottish dance and in return watched Tibetan and Nepali ones.
There the girls saw the work of NGOs (non-government organisa- tions) who were working to repair villages destroyed in last year’s devastating earthquake.
The girls dug a hole to house a tank that would provide the camp with fresh water. The earthquake, in April 2015, killed more than 8,000 people and injured more than 21,000. The girls completed their adventure with white water rafting, passing through rapids and wildlife and jungle communities.
One of the pupils said: “Our trip gave each of us the opportunity to learn about charities and organisations that feature less in the media.
“We also left having formed new friendships with people we would never have met. The experience was humbling, challenging, and exciting.
“We are already talking about going back to do the Everest base camp trek together at some point.”
Another pupil said: “Going to Nepal was an eye-opening and meaningful journey.
“We enjoyed the wonderful culture, endured the seven days of trekking and most importantly experienced the tremendous difference that teamwork and kindness can bring to a group.”
A school spokesman said: “The students who participated were an absolute credit to the school.
“They were, without exception, kind, resilient, resourceful, pragmatic, strong, intelligent, thoughtful and determined.
“As the school roll moves to almost 500 this year and we celebrate our well-earned academic successes at GCSE and A level, it is very heartening indeed to have witnessed first- hand our cherished holistic education in action.”
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