Cycling 6,000km in school is no mean feat
Dubai British School students take up challenge to raise funds for Africa trip
Cycling 6,000km around a school foyer for Dubai British School (DBS) students until Thursday is a great challenge, but those who have taken up the task are confident they will finish in order to raise funds for their very own expedition this summer to conserve wildlife and ecosystems in Africa.
Four students led by their geography teacher David Wright will have a life-changing experience once they reach South Africa as they explore wildlife in Kruger National Park and Sodwana Bay — two sites where they will engage in a camping expedition of sorts for two weeks.
Hundreds of students, including DBS school staff and security guards, took part in the ‘Cycle to South Africa Challenge’ on Sunday to support the four students and their teacher to make a difference in other communities.
“We are trying to complete 6,000km of cycling, which is equivalent to the distance from Dubai to South Africa by flight, to raise approximately Dh60,000 for this expedition. It is a great opportunity for our students to travel to help other communities find ways to solve conservation issues,” said Wright.
The first week will be spent in a lodge at the National Park, Wright said, where they will be looking at large herbivore species and tracking them “while also looking at conservation management of elephants”.
Conservation of reefs
“The second week will be a stay at a camp site next to Sodwana Bay. The students will be diving there and looking at conservation management of the reefs in the Indian Ocean,” said Wright.
“We will be working closely with other groups and students from around the world who are also going to be part of the expedition organised by Operation Wallacea.”
Elizabeth Keily, 17, from Australia, said, “I’m very excited to learn about the ecology and nature in South Africa. I’m just a bit worried about the living conditions.”