MADAM, Following my safe return back from my world challenge expedition in Southern Tanzania, I would once again like to say a big thank you to all those that helped and supported me to raise all the funds to get there.

I walked into what instantly felt like a large family as the people of Tanzania welcomed me and my team warmly. The people of Tanzania were very friendly and keen to help us with any problems.

They might not have as much as we do, but they do have something that puts this country to shame – they have the gift of loving one another and caring for one another like a big family.

For the first few days of our journey we set up our blue tents within a beautiful campsite in the village of Kilwamosoko where we explored their local market. We tasted coconut juice straight from the coconut and discovered unique spices some of the locals created.

For the next part of our journey we went to Masasi, where we were to do our project work at Mtapika. I took part in a gardening task, making six vegetable patches while another group of people from my team went to complete a world map painting on their new science block wall placing a red mark where we lived in England and another red mark to colour where Tanzania was.

During our stay at our linked school, we got the chance to get to know a group of students from the school. We found out what it was like to go to a school in their country.

Once our project work was complete we set off to our five day trek up the Livingstone Mountains where we walked a distance of 12km distance per day reaching our height goal of 2000 feet up the mountain.

We completed the trek by midday on Saturday after beginning our trek on Monday evening. We saw outstanding scenery which took my breath away. For the final part of the expedition, we went on a two day safari in the Ruha National Park on the outskirts of a big town called Iringa. During the safari we encountered zebras, antelope, baboons, lion cubs and hippos. We also came across many breeds of birds like toucans and hawks.

Overall, the expedition gave me a life-changing experience, which I thoroughly recommend to all young people that may get the opportunity. I would like to thank my school, St Mary's Lugwardine and the teachers for making this experience possible.

Ebony Hodges, Ross