PUPILS from St Helen’s School, Northwood, have been on a trip to Malawi, helping local charities while working towards their their gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

A group of 16 pupils, led by David Froggatt, geography teacher and Duke of Edinburgh assistant co-ordinator at St Helen’s, had the trip of a lifetime.

During their three-week expedition, they took on a number of challenges to support and develop communities.

At Nankhufi School in the Upper Shire Valley, one team helped create a couple of thousand bricks, which will be used to build new classrooms as some lessons are currently taught outside, with only a tree for shade.

While some St Helen’s pupils delivered medical supplies to the Ministry of Hope Crisis Nursery, others helped plaster the walls and floor of the Dzalanyama school project.

Both teams entertained the local children with games such as, the hokey-cokey, football matches and reading.

David Frogatt said, “'It was so lovely to be surrounded by the children, their little faces glowing with pride and appreciation.”

A particular highlight of this year’s expedition was watching the Porters Race up Mt Muljane, a 25 km race up the mountain.

The final two days were spent on safari along the Shire River and savouring a final sunset over the river.