Newton Abbot Students Undertake Inca-redible Journey to Peru
15 students from Coombeshead Academy in Newton Abbot, part of Education South West, flew out to Peru over the summer break to spend 4 weeks exploring the country’s vast mountain range, completing projects and expeditions along the way.
The students began their camping adventure in Camp Moray, situated in the mountain Valleys of Moray, a whopping 3600m above sea level. Whilst there they assisted the local community in building three more bathrooms, doubling the washroom facilities they had before.
The students learnt a huge amount about life in Peru and were shown how to build and cook food in mud ovens, how to speak the local language of Quechua and they even explored an ancient Inca ruin where over 3600 different varieties of potatoes have been grown in their own micro-climate. They reciprocated the knowledge sharing by teaching local children how to play Duck Duck Goose.
The group then travelled 2000m down to Camp Sacred Valley where their project work included creating a community garden where the locals could plant, grow and sell crops to the local market. The team helped dig and plant over 200 avocado trees which will help provide an injection of funds into the local area.
They also explored a waterfall. A short 3 hour walk up the mountains of Sacred Valley took them to within touching distance of a natural waterfall which, accompanied with some stunning views of the Sacred Valley, they reported was “truly magical”.
The students then went back up through the mountains to Camp Maras to work with a school which also gave them the chance to reflect on how different the education system is in Peru compared to the UK. The group helped to improve the play area for nursery children, after many hours of digging, raking, mending and a quick lick of paint, the new playpark was reopened.
At their final camp, the students visited another school to teach some English and helped out by washing up and cleaning toilets. They prepared the landfor a new irrigation system as well as sewing large sections of fabric together to create a shelter for new crops to be shielded from the intense sunshine.
The trip ended with the hardest challenge of them all, the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu which consisted of 5 long days of walking. Every single student completed the trek and was able to visit one of the modern wonders of the world.
Eva, now in Year 11 commented:
“I really loved all the project work and getting to know the communities, especially teaching young students English in their schools. The hardest, but my most favourite, part of the expedition was the trek to Machu Picchu because of the exciting challenge and learning about the history. It was rewarding to have amazing views in each and every camp to wake up to. I had the most amazing time, I would thoroughly recommend a trip like this to anyone eager to explore the world, I would most definitely do it all over again.”
Helen Coulson, Headteacher at Coombeshead Academy said:
“I am so proud of all the students who took part in the trip to Peru. It was clearly an adventure that the students will never forget and thoroughly enjoyed. The group also supported many local communities in Peru and helped to improve living conditions, boosted the local economies and embraced the Peruvian culture completely.”
Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West said:
“What an amazing trip;the students have not only seen some brilliant sights, they have also learnt some important skills and had the opportunity to reflect on their place in the wider world. This adventure hopefully showed students that you can do anything if you put your mind to it and life can take you anywhere, even to the mountains of Peru.”
