Hurst Expedition 2026
The Hurstpierpoint College Expedition 2026 had so many subscribers that it had to be split into two groups. The Lower Sixth to leave on the 1st of July and and upper Sixth to leave on the 5th via Gatwick Airport to visit Cameron’s Orphanage in Mkushi, Zambia. .
Due to the war in Iran, and guidance from the government, the trip nearly didn’t go ahead! Just days before the lower 6th were about to fly, the government advice for flying via Dubai changed and the trip was back on.
The Lower 6th team consisted of 22 pupils plus two teachers, Indi Rowley and Dan Moore with Amanda Jayne as the expedition leader working for True Adventure and James White went as an project manager staying in Mkushi for the duration. All had prepared to live ‘off grid’ in mud huts and to work hard to complete various tasks at the orphanage and school.
Upper 6th consisted of 18 students plus three teachers, Nick Chadwell, Cameron Allan and Immy Blyth led by Simon Turner the expedition leader working for True Adventure.
To make logistics work, the Lower 6th team went straight to Mkushi to carry out project work at Itala Foundation School and spend time at Cameron’s Orphanage. The Upper 6th went south to Livingstone where they completed a two night, challenging trek across the Zambezi River flood plain, wild camping under the stars, meeting with various local villages to experience bush life in Zambia. This was followed by a visit to Victoria Falls and a spectacular one day safari in Chobe National Park, across the border in Botswana.
After completing various tasks at Itala School, the lower 6th moved south to Livingstone to mirror the activities the Upper 6th had just carried out. Both team met briefly for one evening before the upper 6th headed up to Mkushi to carry on with the work the Lower 6th had started.
This was a very successful trip with everyone turning their hand to something new, whether that was bricklaying, labouring, gardening, painting, cleaning, cooking, teaching, entertaining or partying with the orphanage children.
Both teams self catered, shopping in the local market and cooking on traditional charcoal braziers, they also entertained the staff and children from the orphanage in our camp village.
Life-affirming moments like that are rare and precious,special memories were made.
The Hurst teams worked hard and played hard and left exhausted but with an amazing sense of achievement.
During the days on project the teams managed to achieve the following:
- Paint the outside of a newly completed classroom block
- Plaster the inside of the 3 classroom block including the offices and hallways
- Paint the inside of this classroom block as well
- Build the brand new toilet block up to roof level (the main project)
- Play with and entertain children living at Cameron’s Orphanage, everyday.
- Paint murals on the school external wall
- Paint the Bemba alphabet and numbers, for outside classes, on the school walls
- renew the School sign, plastering, background painting and sign writing
- Played football and netball (a few times) against the local team in Mkushi and against village teams on both Livingstone trips.
- Hand over donations to the local clinic, the school, Cameron’s Orphanage and the local community (some 800 kg in total thanks to our local community at Hurst)
- Paint the existing school toilets
