World Challenge 2025

The World Challenge Trip in July 2025 involved 4 teams travelling out to Eswatini, via Rwanda and South Africa to take part in a jam packed itinerary for a trip of a lifetime. The trip involved all teams having a slightly different itinerary, but they all spent time in Eswatini, completed a trek, supported at a Neighbourhood Care Point, and spent time on Safari in Kruger National Park. The trip was a memorable experience, providing opportunities for our students to learn about other cultures, meet new people of different ages and backgrounds, develop teamwork skills, take on a range of different roles and overcome a range of different challenges. The students and staff were able to push themselves out of their comfort zones both physically and mentally. The trip focused on students leading and developing independence, providing students with an opportunity to be a group leader, a food planner, a chef, an accountant, a camp manager and a logistical manager.

The teams all had a unique experience when visiting Eswatini and learning about the culture of the country and their people. Teams visited local cultural villages, such as Mantenga Cultural Village where they had the privilege of watching the locals dancing and learning about the traditions of the tribe, some teams also saw visitors from Botswana who were sharing their traditional dances. Staff and students also had the opportunity to visit Mbabane, Ngwenya Glass, Malolotja Nature Reserve and Sibebe Rock,

Each team completed a three day trek in part of Eswatini - with some teams completing the Ngwempisi Ridge Trek. Over the three days, students and staff completed an approximate distance of 24km - initially trekking along a contour of the Ngwempisi Gorge Ridge, stopping at Etjebovu lookout point and then following Ngempisi downstream. After heading out the valley onto the ridges of the lower Ngwempisi Gorge, the trail then entered rural farmlands and homesteads, before climbing Makhungutja Mountain. The teams completing this trek finished at the Wide Horizon Campsite and were lucky enough to see Zebras! 

Each team had a unique project they were working towards at their Neighborhood Care Point (NCP). A NCP in Eswatini provides essential food, education and medical support for children in rural communities; this was originally established in 2002 as part of a national intervention strategy. NCP’s are operated mainly by volunteers and face heavy demand and limited resources.The aim of supporting at a NCP was to contribute towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 - focusing on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for everyone. Team 1 were at Ndinda and cleared brushland, cultivated and planted a vegetable garden and repainted existing buildings. Team 2 were involved with levelling the ground for the chickens, plastering and painting the new pit-latrine toilets and digging a trench. Team 3 were at Nsuka and were involved in building the chicken house including mixing cement, laying bricks, transporting materials and plastering the walls. They also assisted with building pit-latrine toilets. Team 4 were at Nqudvula and supported with setting up a water system. The students helped to divert the water from a nearby stream and then leveled an area of the bank with pickaxes and shovels to create a flat base for the water. Students also had downtime whilst at the NCP, where they spent time with the local children, playing games with them, dancing with them and teaching them activities - and some teams experienced a local home cooked meal. Some teams also helped support the local people to collect firewood and went on guided community walks. FSG staff and students also made contributions to the NCPs, including food and toys / games for the children. 

A highlight of the trip for most teams was the Safari at Kruger National Park. All staff and students had a day safari, with an additional option of a sunset safari. Teams had guided tours around the Kruger National Park, learning information about the different animals they saw. Teams were lucky enough to see the Big 5 throughout their Safari!

Staff and students described this trip as a once in a lifetime experience. It was an enriching, educational experience, with students being able to fully immerse themselves in the Eswatini Culture, creating memories that will last a lifetime.