A GROUP of staff and students from Ringwood School undertook a once in a lifetime month-long expedition to Borneo with Camps International.

After two years of hard work fundraising to go on the trip, 38 students from years 11 and 12 boarded the plane for the 13-hour flight on a trip that would widen their cultural horizons, present them with new challenges and friendships, change their views on consumerism and deepen their understanding of their place in the world.

Accompanied by staff Simon Abel, Jonny Owen, Emma Owen and Emma Barnes, the students visited a world completely removed from their own comfort zone.

In all, they stayed in five camps run by Camps International across the Borneo rainforest, working in the rural communities they met there.

Staff and students took part in rainforest regeneration programmes, community work and a challenging trek through the dense jungle of Borneo, among many other activities.

The students learned how devastating lucrative palm oil plantations and deforestation are on the wildlife populations and environments of the forests and mountains, particularly after a visit to the Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary.

Learning to appreciate local cuisine and living with the lack of home comforts and jungle sanitation were some of the challenges they faced.

Through this experience they realised quite how lucky they were to be living and studying in the UK, while at the same time helping to improve the living standards of the communities they visited.

The students involved in the trip have written their favourite memories on postcards which will form a trip display in the school.

Expedition Leader, Simon Abel, said: "This was a life-changing trip. I am so proud of our students and how successful they made the expedition. Particular highlights were witnessing the breathtaking sunset over Mount Kinabaloo, the Orang-utan Sanctuary visit and watching as our students faced challenges with maturity and aplomb - and immense enjoyment."

Jonny Owen added: "The landscapes and communities we all experienced were out of this world. Everyone worked hard and had a fantastic time. It was a profound experience for the students; understanding how different life is across the world and how lucky they are."