And they all came back to change!

All of the groups on the 10 week expedition returned in very high spirits from their Phase 1 project sites on Monday for Changeover. Admittedly, most people returned unrecognisable as their former selves and Tim and Andy, Alpha 3 trek leaders, had clearly let themselves go. Surely no mirrors and very little water are poor excuses to go a whole three weeks without shaving?! Jack and Craig claimed to have had a much needed shower but it really wasn’t obvious to the rest of us and Gavin may have regretted his choice of white trackies and t-shirt when it came to actually having to wash them!

Changeover was a crazy 36 hours involving the washing of clothes and self, catching up with news from other Alpha groups and taking part in the famous Raleigh skit competition. Each group did a performance to represent life during Phase 1 and some parts were funny, some were moving and some were downright scary (the least said about Tom and Nick’s solos the better!), but each was special in its own unique way. It was a very close run competition between Alpha 1 and 4 as to the best song about life on Raleigh to the tune of Wonderwall. Alpha 4 was victorious and their refrain of “I don’t believe that anybody smells the way we do, so wash me now-ow’ really could have been about any one of us.

The moment of truth finally arrived and Jim announced the new Alpha groups and where each would be going. Caz and Kim are staying as Alpha 1 Project Managers up at Oshana school and their group for Phase 2 includes Breeze, Wendy, Gavin, Erik, Eustacia, Spence, Sophie, Jessica Hague, Angharad, Alex, Charlotte and George. Tom and Matt are Alpha 2 Project Managers down at the Sperrgebiet and the privileged few who have gone with them are Paul, Andy, Jamel, Christophine, Virginia, Rhosyn, Jack, Tom, Chris, Megan, Craig and Sze.

Alpha 3 and 4 are both trek groups for Phase 2. Charlie and Andy are leading Alpha 3 and their group includes Tasha, Laura, Alistair, Mark, Mairi, Nicholai, Nambuli, Charmillar, Rachel, Nick, Becca and Melvin. Led by Dave, Tim and Flic in Alpha 4 are Luke, Danielle, Michelle, Rainbow, Rejoice, James, Mathew, Veripi, Shakira, Joe, Dom, Ross and Victoria.

Everyone set off bright and early on Wednesday morning in their news groups and as seasoned Raleigh professionals are already working and trekking hard. They are all determined to make the most of every minute as the weeks are now flying by!

Alpha 4


Alpha 3


Alpha 2