NCS Challenge Completed!

In July GAGA UK acted as a Community Partner to a National Citizen Service (NCS) wave.  We were assigned to Team Emeke and met up at Warwickshire College to give them an overview of GAGA UK and the projects we support in Southern Africa.  The team were made up of students who had just completed their GCSE's and were highly engaged in the NCS Community Challenge Experience!  They had lots of questions about the projects and after the initial familiarisation visit they were fired up to participate in fundraising and awareness activities on our behalf.  At the second visit I was able to see their preparations for their "pitch" to the NCS team for resources and approval for their awareness and fundraising plans.  They had prepared a presentation, posters, risk assessments and ensured that each team member played a part in the presentation.

On the challenge day, we met in Cubbington, ready to complete the 11km Cubbington & Offchurch Circular Walk.  The purpose of the walk was to give the students an insight into the kind of distance many students their age and younger live from their secondary school or a health care clinic.  Team Emeke had started to get sponsorship for completing this walk and were enthusiastic participants.  Helped along by some music from one of the team and encouraged by the additional team member (Teddy, the GAGA Office Dog!) the walk was completed across fields and tracks, in sunshine and showers to a triumphant end back in Cubbington!

The following day they manned a stand in Leamington Spa, telling members of the public about GAGA UK and handing out leaflets to raise awareness and encourage people to follow GAGA UK on social media.  The final sponsorship figure will be revealed in September but we are confident it will be an amount that will truly #makeadifference - Thank you Team Emeke #SAYYES to #NCS