Antipodeans Abroad and Barker College over the past 8 years

Barker College, Indian Himalaya, 2004

Barker College, Tanzania, 2011

PROGRAM: Expeditions & Tours
SCHOOL: Barker College
Written By: Sally Collins, Assistant Dean of the Senior School, Barker College

Antipodeans Abroad have been working with Barker College to provide amazing experiences since 2004 through the Expedition program. Typically the trips have involved a cultural immersion, an opportunity to improve their language skills and a physical adventure that pushes the students to achieve something that they have never achieved before; climbing Mt Meru, Tanzania (4566m), trekking the highest pass in Peru, completing a 8 day trek through the Indian Himalayas or trekking the great Wall of China in the snow for 8 days.

Antipodeans Abroad has always organised an amazing community service component in each Expedition helping others who are less fortunate than us; including resourcing a Tibetan school and repainting part of the monastery, putting a first toilet, shower and hot water service into a rural school in south west China, making an outdoor eating area for a poor boarding school in Peru and setting up a perma-culture area for an orphanage in Tanzania.

The students fundraise for the year leading up to the Expedition, with a common amount of $AUS7000 raised to fund their stay and the equipment they will need on their community project. Monday is also raised for extra schooling, resources, equipment and upkeep of the project in each country.

Barker College, India, 2005

On these Expeditions, the students develop an understanding and awareness for others, emotional intelligence and a travel independence that cannot be given to them in Australia. They book restaurants, accommodation and transport on the Expeditions and plan and arrange the itinerary. Antipodeans support the students with regular itinerary, fundraising and team building meetings.

A quote from a student that joined one of our expeditions –

“It was a very different experience in another country without the guidance of my parents. I definitely learnt to be an independent traveller and how to control what I was doing. I have returned a changed person. I have come to appreciate the things I take for granted in this country. I came back with a renewed love of my friends as I hadn't seen them in ages but most of all I came back with an open mind. Seeing the orphans living such a simple life made me think about mine, all the over exaggeration and emphasis on wealth and happiness that comes with it. It was absent there, it was just simple.”

Barker College, Tanzania, 2011