Embarking on 3 weeks work experience very far from home...

Lenny (17) suggested that his 'work experience' instead of being conducted in some interior environment in Oxford could perhaps be done helping elephant conservation in Northern Mozambique? Cherwell school (perhaps surprisingly but definitely progressively) accepted his suggestion and he was able to finish school a week early to embark on his adventure.  Here he is ladened down with extra luggage...ranger uniforms and boots amongst other things.

Johnny (19) has just finished his A'levels and was looking into that post school vacuum.  The void appears endless yet the possibilities infinite.  While he paused and pondered I suggested that he might want to join Lenny and visit Dominik.  Johnny has done lots of fund-raising for Mareja in the past and lots of fishing with Dominik, which has given him some insight into his focussed ways, (despite a school day he would often try to prise Johnny out of bed at dawn to catch a 'monster pike'.). 

 

He and Lenny will now be prised out of bed to track poachers, entertain tourists or build something durable made out of mud.

 

I look forward to posting up their thoughts about life in the remote sub-tropical bush - far from school, friends and their known world. 

 

It's really wonderful to have their energy and support.

BRAND NEW game show idea - if there are any Producers out there itching for an idea?

I have thought of a new game show type challenge called 'who can gather Dominik's wish list for Mozambique...in 2 days and fit it in your luggage while also packing your pants and anti malaria pills?'

It requires a variety of skills and hurdles to navigate. Can you decipher his messages, interpret his instructions, locate and travel to shops (given that you have a full life of other stuff to do), pay with very limited funds and so on.

The list began to arrive a week ago and was large but manageable:

·         Ranger boots size 42,43,44

·         Army long sleeves shirts (German or Austrian)

·         Belts

·         British army trousers (NB not quantity given)

·         Then photos of qualified rangers 

·         Copy of 14 certificates in colour (very lengthy to download all from multiple sources)

·         Level 1 nicotine patches

·         Computer cable (he forgot)

I added to this, a present for Adamo who surprisingly turned up for the Ranger training.  His daughter, my names sake, died a few years ago and soon after he did a bunk from Mareja with a set of fine German china... having been best longest serving member of community, from a child.

Other requests that came in yesterday, old fashioned hanging scales, glasses lots +2.5/3.

Then today with only weekend to go until Lenny aged 17 and johnny aged 19 leave for Moz....

·         Wick for oil lamp (accompanied by picture of his hand and existing wick, but sadly don't know his hand measurements, though they are 'large')

·         Inverter 12v - 240 v for computer x 2

·        Plumbing, taps inside and out, and valves illustrated with another mysterious pictures and a voice message saying could be 1/2" or 3/4" not sure.

I got it all and  a bag to fit it in. It was squeezed into Lenny and Johnny's packing, which included a service station meet up as J headed to Heathrow. Challenge met but sadly no spotlight or prize presented.... yet?

Brad, aged 9 from Scotland, chose to study Mareja for his school project about good causes

 

Here is Brad with the super poster he designed explaining different aspects of Mareja's conservation work but particularly our work to stop elephant poaching.  It is beautifully clear and laid out.

 

It is work like this that really helps spread the word and build awareness of the ivory trade and plight of the majestic elephant.

And here he is with his sister Rachel with a very well deserved Tshirt from Mareja as a 'thank you' for Brad's work.