NEWS
Abi Clarke, originally from Warrington but now living in Carlisle, is doing the charity challenge, aptly named TRIDENT ‘The Devil’s Pitchfork’ in Central America while staying there for her university placement.
Second-year BA (Hons) Social Work student Abi, 33, is travelling to Guatemala at the start of January to take part in a 70-day work placement with a charity called Education for the Children Foundation (EFTC).
The charity supports poor families to educate their children. Although education became free in Guatemala in 2009, there are many hidden costs which prevent parents from sending their children to school including the cost of a desk, learning equipment and uniform.
As well as working with the charity in their classrooms, Abi is taking part in the gruelling and dangerous weekend challenge to help raise money to educate some of the country’s poorest children.
Abi said: “I’m doing a three peaks challenge, but not as we know it! I will be climbing three volcanoes: two of them are still active, and two of them are between 3700 and 4000 metres high which means there is altitude to contend with too!“
In previous years, people taking part have had the chance to watch an eruption as well as toasting marshmallows on the molten lava.
Abi added: “I love walking out on the fells in Cumbria and I enjoy a good physical challenge so when I was asked to take part in the event I jumped at the chance to do something so amazing whilst raising money for EFTC. We don’t realise how lucky we are to live in a country where we can afford to be educated.”
The fundraisers will cover the once-in-a- lifetime challenge in three days and will carry everything they need along with them, from tents to food and water while trekking up the volcanoes, all situated near the town of Antigua.
The money raised will support the charity to get some of Guatemala’s poorest children off the street and into the classroom. EFTC is working to break the cycle of poverty for hundreds of families.
During her placement, Abi will work with the teachers and the school psychologists to provide much needed one-to-one attention for the children. She will also work with the families of the children to support improvement in their home life, covering issues such as safeguarding and health issues including nutrition education.
The hard work and the challenge are both things which adventurous Abi will relish: “This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a completely different environment and culture. The people I will be working with have very complex needs and problems, therefore the experience will be invaluable. I will also be learning Spanish and I am already taking lessons. I hope to be practically fluent by the time I come home!”
Jenni Tuck, senior lecturer on the social work course, believes that Abi will learn a lot from the placement opportunity. She said: “All practice placements allow students to integrate theory into practice and develop their skills, but the international placements really stretch the students and enhance their development and understanding of other cultures.
“EFTC is a small charity doing fantastic work for the children and families in Guatemala and the fact that Abi has already started learning Spanish and is taking part in the volcano challenge will assist her in becoming completely integrated into the project.”
“I will be climbing three volcanoes: two of them are still active, and two of them are between 3700 and 4000 metres high which means there is altitude to contend with too!”
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