Africa bound! The Ashville College party on its way to help support the Open Arms Malawi charity

Ashville departs for three-week African charity mission

Pupils and teachers from Ashville College are spending three weeks on a charity mission in Malawi

Posted by Stephanie Broad | July 24, 2015 | International

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• #open-arms-malawi
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Twenty-two sixth formers and three staff members will be undertaking a number of construction projects for the Open Arms Malawi charity, which was developed by former Ashville teacher Neville Bevis and his wife Rosemary more than 20 years ago.

To help pay for the building and decorating materials, the pupils have staged a series of fund-raising activities over the last year.

These have included a putting on a fashion show, entering a team in this year’s bed race, and completing a 12-hour 102-mile cycle challenge from Bowness in the Lake District back to the school in Harrogate.

In addition to the work for the charity, which runs two orphanages in the towns of Blantyre and Mangochi, the group will visit Liwonde National Park and trek the Mulanje Massif.

Ian Gould, Ashville College’s Director of Outdoors Education and party leader, said: “This is going to be an incredible three weeks for pupils and staff alike.

“We will be carrying out work to help support this wonderful charity, as well as taking in a number of local sites and going on safari.

“It will be an extremely rewarding few weeks and although it is a great way for the students to unwind from the rigors of their exams, it will also be a fantastic experience to help the most vulnerable and least fortunate in Malawi.

“I know it will be an experience none of them will forget in a hurry.” 

www.ashville.co.uk