Fulcrum Challenge to India - Three Raine's pupils lead the way
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Fulcrum Challenge to India - Three Raine's pupils lead the way |
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Three Raine's Foundation School pupils have just departed the UK for India to take part in the Fulcrum Challenge for two weeks. Michael Rodrigues, 17, from Bow, Venn Chesterton, 18, from the Isle of Dogs and Joy Kafero, 17, from Stepney, will be spending a week on a camel crossing Rajasthan. When they arrive at local villages, they will be carrying out social work and interacting with local children. "I am very excited about it - I aim to do development work when I leave school and this will be a great experience," says Venn Chesterton. John Hunt, Chief Executive of the Fulcrum Challenge and founder of Fulcrum says that "Fulcrum helps talented students with their transition to adulthood and prepares them for taking responsibility. It also broadens their knowledge, skills and judgement which results in much improved personal awareness. The challenge helps them realise their full potential and their ability to consistently perform at their best. They learn to understand themselves, their motives, and work as a team. The results are nothing short of outstanding."
Michael Rodrigues, Joy Kafero and Venn Chesterton from Raine's Foundation School show the location of the Fulcrum Challenge which departed on 17th February, 2003.
The Fulcrum Challenge, a leadership development charity whose motto is "investing in leaders of the future", is a carefully structured programme, designed to help prepare talented students for their transition to adulthood. It aims to help them to question their fundamental assumptions and perceptions through a variety of structured activities, while developing an understanding of their full potential and abilities. Its self-development leadership programme is designed to be completed on a part-time basis over one year and the participants undertake modules such as Introduction to Leadership and Introduction to Financial Management. They also participate in an Environmental Project. This Challenge culminates in an Overseas Cultural Visit and the 14-day trip to a developing country, interacting with the local community, is one of the high points of the challenge. Working on a charitable project within the country is included. Every opportunity is taken to further the teams understanding and education in both the formal and informal environment. While this can include visits to museums and places of interest, more importantly, there are opportunities to discover the cultural aspects of the country not normally experienced by the general visitor. After their return, they participate in the Fulcrum Conference, which included in the Introduction to Business module, giving the attendees the opportunity to discuss their career plans. "We have already met the rest of the team on two occasions and they are a nice group," says Michael Rodrigues. "They all come from Newham or Tower Hamlets."
Joy Kafero (far left), Michael Rodrigues (fifth from left, astride fence) and Venn Chesterton (6th from left, standing) from Raine's Foundation School participating in the Environmental Project Module of the Fulcrum Challenge
The three Raine's Foundation 'A' level students were carefully selected from the 6th form and were funded by the Excellence in Cities programme as curriculum enhancement for Gifted and Talented students. Numerous private sponsors such as MorganStanley, BP, Marks & Spencer, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the LeadershipTrust Foundation have also sponsored the costs of their trip. "This is going to be a cultural experience, to see life outside my framework," says Joy Kafero. "It will also be my first trip to Asia." "The Fulcrum Challenge is not about climbing mountains or other physically stretching endeavours. It is about the students self development through the medium of human contact and personal relationships," says John Hunt. The Challenge has previously taken place in Botswana, South Africa, Mongolia, Kenya, Borneo, Malaysia, Oman and China. The team departed for India on Monday 17th February and arrive home on 5th March, 2003. Further information about the Fulcrum Challenge, a registered charity that began 7 years ago, can be found at www.fulcrum-challenge.org |
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Further information about Raine's Foundation School today can be found at: www.rainesfoundation.org.uk
Further information about The Old Raineians' Association can be found at: www.oldraineians.com
Further information about individual Old Raineians, including their memories of the school and their teachers, a message board, a list of famous pupils and some school photographs, can be found at: www.friendsreunited.co.uk
