At 7th Epsom Scouts, a group of thirty Scouts and Explorer Scouts, in addition to six leaders, have been preparing since September 2007 to embrace the trip of a lifetime – to spend three weeks travelling across Uganda and Kenya exploring a culture and lifestyle so different to any of our enriched lives.

And on Sunday their waiting and preparation had finally come to an end.

By community correspondent Chris Lynch Planning began several months after the 2006 Uganda trip occurred; and members of the ‘Uganda team’ have been attending regular events, camps and meetings with the aim of raising a convincing lump amount of money to aid the building project at Epsom Methodist Church in Ashley Road, Epsom. They have attended team-building camps and tests; experienced gruelling interviews; built tents; held quiz nights; and spent nearly £2000 in return for a truly unique experience.

In addition to a series of injections, specific equipment needed for bare survival in the depths of the African jungles and townships have been members’ pockets (or, moreover, parents’ pockets) have been deep. The current leader set-up is comprised of regular leaders and helpers at the Scout group, and above all, the Uganda team preparation and team-building events have highlighted the need for personal ambition, strength of character, and the fundamental value of attitude: candidates were given a ‘no’ if they were deemed unsuitable and if they were attending events for the wrong reasons!

But, as a friend of mine and team member said just days before the plane took them to the other side of the world, ‘It seems extremely daunting; it’s been two years and for it to be in literally a few days is pretty weird’. Why are they doing the trip? To work within Ugandan communities and help with development projects; experience another lifestyle; and challenge themselves on a close personal and emotional level.

Truly a once-in-a-lifetime trip.