The Madagascar 2012 Expedition will follow 14 years of world travel and community projects organised by The Coopers' Company and Coborn School. In 2012 a group of 34 year 12 and 13 students will spend one month in Madagascar, with the aim of completing the building of a secondary school block in the Merina village of Andranosoa. Pupils will also spend time experiencing the vulnerable wildlife, people and landscapes of what is a unique country by travelling to the west coast via a 3 day canoe journey along the Tsiribihina river, visiting the Tsingy de Bemaraha, Kirindy Forest and the Avenue de Baobab. As a team, we are hoping to raise £20,000 to cover costs for the charity project. The aim of this blog is to provide information about Madagascar, the team and the fund-raising project. Please visit the pages shown on the right to learn more about the expedition.

Sunday, 27 May 2012

Foundations completed, walls go up this week

Our project manager Roland is now living in Andranosoa and will be sending us daily updates of the building work as the deadline to complete the school draws near. In the last day, the foundations have all been finished and money has been transferred to purchase materials for the rest of the building.

Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Building Work Starts in Madagascar

With 52 Days to go until we depart for Madagascar, building work has started in ernest. Roland, our project manager in Madagascar has just sent us these photos.

Thursday, 17 May 2012

20 Questions that Require Answers!

Just a quick check-list with 57 days to go!

  1. Have you handed in all of your fundraising money to Mrs Clark? 
  2. Have you paid all of your trip money?
  3. Have you had all of your jabs?
  4. Have you ordered Malarone or similar anti malarial?
  5. Do you have extra packets of medicine that you may need?
  6. Have you copied your passport for Mrs McCall and one to keep at home?
  7. Have you given me any snorkelling equipment that you can lend?
  8. Have you bought all of your equipment and clothes?
  9. Are you getting to the peak of physical fitness? 
  10. Are you working on your swimming if you are not a strong swimmer?
  11. Have you been to the dentist recently for a check up?
  12. Do you know your blood type?
  13. Are all of your medical records up to date in school?
  14. Are your emergency contact details correct on the school system?
  15. Have you let me know of any specific dietary requirements?
  16. Have you left the morning of Sat 7th July free to bring your kit to school?
  17. Do you have any large holdalls/ kit bags you could lend for taking equipment out and back?
  18. Do you have a partner that you will share a tent with? 
  19. Have you read through the revised itinerary and risk assessment with parents/ guardians?
  20. Are you still selling tickets for the England football shirt because it is still sitting in my office?!

Any specific answers please email me with a response. I will be giving out a form at the upcoming parents meeting on Wednesday the 13th June (tbc) where most of the other bits and pieces can be filled in (next of kin, diet etc...)

Mr Cornish 

Andranosoa Meetings

While work is well under way to build our new school, the village have been having a series of meetings to prepare them for our visit. Here are the latest photos from project manager Roland:



This is one of the primary school classrooms where we will be 'camping' during our project work 

Memories of Previous Expeditions to Madagascar

I was just going through my old photos of Madagascar and lots of excellent expedition Memories came flooding back!

Camping on a deserted coral island with pupils from the American School of Antananarivo

Construction work in the Eastern Rainforest

 4x4 Trip to the East coast with the American School

Teaching American school pupils how to build a fence in the Rainforest with Hennie (carpenter)

Camp cooking

Flying over the Eastern Rainforest with Gurt (pilot)

I'm sure that we will come back with equally amazing stories and photos!

Mr Cornish 

Saturday, 12 May 2012

Snorkelling



I am looking for 5 mask, snorkel and flipper sets so that we can explore the islands off of Belo Sur Mer. Knowing that some of you are well travelled I'm sure that we can put together this equipment rather than having to buy it all new.



Please can you let me know if you or someone you know has a set (or individual items) that you will able to lend. You will need to allow them to be used by other members of the team other than yourself!

Please let me know asap and bring any of the items to school by the end of next week. 

Mr Cornish