I spent an amazing three months living with a Lepcha family in the hills of West Bengal, India. The Lepchas, an idiginous tribe who inhabit and farm these lush hills, are a very special people: incredibly kind, caring and living a gentle pace of life. I taught the children of the village English in the morning and evening at the Lepcha Night School and also at the local primary school. The children ranged from maybe 4 to 11. They were all so eager and enthusiastic to learn. Apart from being their teacher, I also got to know them and become their friend, which was fantastic. Even though the teaching was a major role in my time there I also had the opportunity just to live and experience the world of another people and culture. I learnt their customs, songs, dances, language and also some archery. I lent a hand to the daily chores of rice-beating and feeding the animals. The hour long walk to the market over the terraced hills, swimming down at the river and playing makeshift games of cricket with the children will not soon be forgotten. Rupert organised his trip with Africa and Asia venture www.aventure.co.uk.

Natasha Bell (NC 2002-07) spent three months in a hospital in Madurai, southern India shadowing a Urologist and Gynaecologist. She was able to observe both consultations and operations and after a month was allowed to scrub up occasionally and help the surgeon by holding instruments and grips and passing items to the operating staff. India was everything she hoped it would be. She saw and experienced many medical and surgical procedures that would never have been possible in the UK and had a fantastic time. She believes the experience helped her gain three offers from her chosen universities. She thanks her sponsors for all their support. She has now accepted a place at Cardiff University to study Medicine.

Charles Russell (LI 2002-07) spent three months teaching football to 12-14 year olds in different schools in Africa. He stayed in a room with no air-conditioning with 14 others but soon got used to it. There were about 30 Gap Year students teaching football and Charles was teamed up with a pupil from Daunteys. They coached all week and then set up matches against their friends' teams at the weekend so there was always a battle to see who was the best coach! The young African players were fast and skillful but Charles was able to help them with their team skills and spatial awareness. After recovering from a bout of Malaria, Charles went on to tour Ghana. Overall he had a very memorable trip thanks to the Konstam Fund.

The Konstam Fund comes under the umbrella of the Marlburian Club Charitable Funds. Each year's Sixth Form leavers are invited to apply for grant, which are awarded to students whose "GAP" year projects have an element of "service" and are based overseas. Terry Rogers, who manages the Club's Charitable Funds interviews applicants in May and sends his recommendations to the Club`s charitable Trustees who make decisions in June. Successful candidates receive grants in the region of £300 to £600 each and are required to write expedition reports for us soon after their return to the UK. The following pupils who left the College in July 2007 have been awarded grants.

Tom Archer (C3) 
Natasha Bell (NC) 
Harry Birks (C3) 
George Carne (CO)  
Charlotte Duncan (EL)Theodora Gormley (TU)
Christopher Ridley (B1)
Lucinda Rouse (NC)
Charles Russell (LI)

Teaching in Tanzania and working with addicts in Hong Kong  
Helping in hospitals in India
Conservation working both South Africa and Fiji 
Conservation in Costa Rica
Teaching in Hanoi
Working with young drug addicts in Hong Kong 
Working with handicapped children in India   
Assisting at a radio station in Senegal  
Helping with sport for boys in Ghana                          

£600
£550
£450
£350
£600
£600
£600
£400
£500

Clara Strachan (NC 2004-06) went to Brazil for three months to run an 'out-of-school' club for disadvantaged children in a favela (slum area) in Rio de Janeiro. She was responsible for preparing sessions in painting, games and basic English for 20 children aged 4 to 13. She was supported by the Kempson Enterprise Trust.

Robert Peal (BH 2001-2006), working with three friends, wrote and performed a 50-minute comedy sketch, 'Comic Abuse', for four weeks at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He and his friends spent many hours promoting his show and gave 25 performances. He started at 11:15pm and such a late slot brought its own challenges. They had mostly positive reviews and found the experience 'extremely rewarding'. Robert was also supported by the Kempson Enterprise Trust.

David Stansbury (CO 2001-2006) spent nearly five months in the Cusco region of Peru, teaching English and sport in a school in a farming town 3800 metres up in the Andes. He set up a library of 400 books and helped with volleyball and basketball, and introduced them to rugby - although he struggled to teach them the idea of passing backwards! He lived with a local family who 'couldn't have done more to make me feel like a brother or son'. David was supported by the Kempson Enterprise Trust.