Stockton Riverside College teacher taking students to Namibia

A teacher is taking her students on the trip of a lifetime after being inspired by her own South African adventure.

Liz Maddison and a group of 12 young people from Stockton Riverside College are destined for the desert plains of Namibia, where they will help communities live in harmony with the region’s wild elephants.

“I can’t put into words what an amazing opportunity this will be for the students,” said Liz who is the college’s childcare course leader and early years lecturer.

“This is a real, once in a lifetime experience. It will change their lives.”

Liz made the journey herself 18 months ago and explained that it was turning 50 that triggered her own desire to do something completely different.

“I had always wanted to do some charity work in Africa and working with elephants was a lifelong dream,” she said.

Liz Maddison during a visit to Namibia

But like so many, as a busy working mum-of-three, it was an ambition she never thought would happen, until, she said: “I read about this volunteer project and it seemed ideal.”

Liz signed up for the trip and before she knew it she was headed for Anixab Damaraland, in the Kunene region of Namibia.

Her trip saw her undertaking building projects to help stop the wild elephants from trampling crops and monitoring the giants in their natural environment, all while sleeping each night under the stars.

Liz said: “When I came back I could hardly talk about it, I was so filled with emotion by the whole experience.”

Travelling to Namibia this October the Stockton Riverside College team will work on a building project at a local primary school, as well as taking part in the all-important elephant patrols.

The group has already held fundraising events including charity nights, cake stalls, tombolas and even an elephant race night, to help towards the cost.

To help them visit http://bit.ly/1zOKJAA