the rising foundation

botswana - january 2023

CCT has partnered with Auckland-based The Rising Foundation (TRF), whose mission is to foster a world where all young people enter adult life with a clear understanding of who they are, how to live, and of where they are headed. TRF believes in the potential of youth, seeing firsthand how a sustained program of intervention and support works; lifting life trajectories is at the forefront of TRF's work.  

TRF suggested four scholarship candidates, conservation-focused student-leaders from South Auckland high schools, for a fully-funded trip to Botswana. The programme, in collaboration with Great Plains Conservation, aimed to broaden their perspectives as they transition into higher education or the workforce. The students were guided by a TRF mentor during their experience.

The Celestielle Charitable Trust and The Rising Foundation - Botswana 2023

trf selection process and trip preparation

The Rising Foundation’s programme is located in five South Auckland high schools where they provide their Transition One, Core and Transition Two services. Transition One begins when students are in Year 8 (12 years old) and they graduate at the end of their schooling years. Many of the students have been with TRF for more than four years, mentored by programme coordinators.

The program coordinators in each school nominated students from their cohort based on:

  • Commitment to The Rising Foundation events and meetings

  • Loyalty to the values, and teachings endorsed by TRF including integrity, insight, synergy and creativity

  • Demonstration of leadership qualities above and beyond his/her year-level

  • A strong willingness to learn and be curious with a sense of adventure

  • Confidence and trust in their ability to absorb and reflect on the opportunity, applying memories and skills to their lives

  • Willing to give anything and everything a try 

  • The ability to confidently articulate the experience to their peers and schools including the Board of Trustees, alongside public speaking with people who they would engage with on the trip

  • The length of time students had remained committed to the programme. For example, one student was chosen “due to her growth in character and attitude during her four years in TRF” 

Trip preparation included:

  • Producing introduction videos for CCT and their partners/sponsors

  • Learning about Botswana and Great Plains Conservation, including videos and documentaries by Derek and Beverley Joubert from Great Plains

  • Fundraising brainstorming session for the ‘Pack For A Purpose” project 

  • Weekly fundraising meetings for the Fiafia Cultural Evening and each student went to performance practices

  • Arranging venue hire, set-up, MC, catering and performances

  • Writing sponsorship requests to collect items to donate (wool and sanitary products) 

  • Using funds raised to purchase bags for the schools in Botswana

  • Multiple video calls with whanau (family) and CCT Team to arrange the required documents for travel to Botswana with minors

  • We thought it extremely important to take small gifts to present to the staff and those we meet during the trip. We brought along sei’s (flowers for ladies to wear in their ear), lavalava (fabric you wrap around your torso), hibiscus earrings and other NZ souvenirs to bring a piece of home with us. We teach our kids to never go anywhere empty-handed. Even if that means a packet of biscuits, it shows your respect and gratitude. 

testimonials

If I'm going to be honest, this trip looks like Celestielle sent 5 little kids to Africa. All of our inner child kept making a lot of appearances during this trip.

Africa is exactly what I imagined peace to sound like starting from the early morning, hearing the birds sing a beautiful tune from the highest branch of nearby tree. The sound of wind blowing through my hair when we're out on our early morning game drives. It sounds like wild animals roaring and growling as the sun starts to rise.

Since I was a kid, I've always known that I really want to travel the world; but never have I ever thought that Africa would be the start of this dream. If there was a word greater than THANK YOU you would hear it from me more than a thousand times.

Arasi T

This trip feels like an out of body experience and something I will most likely never be able to experience ever again. This literally feels like a movie and I am so grateful to be cast for it. Three values I learned about from the people, culture, and environment are love, knowledge, and respect. The love that they share with each other and other camp staff as well. Tseplo our guide said "We are like a family" about the staff. The knowledge that the people here share about their land, people, and animals. Lastly, the value of respect which seems to be ingrained in their culture.

Thank you once again to the Celestielle team, John Bongard, our sponsors and Great Plains Conservation.

Ashanti A (& Duba the Meerkat)

Our trip felt so unreal and special, like I was living in a dream world, never ever would I have thought I would fly all the way across the world to explore and being fed, constantly always being checked up on to make sure we were okay. This trip really had me come out of my comfort zone, got me to bond with our staff/guide and built a stronger bond between us all. I have learnt a lot of things while on the drives, and even on the dinner table. The community really showed how much their culture and values meant to them. Whether that would be through singing, food, interaction with others and even the environment.

Advice I would give others who are able to come on a trip like this is to be like a kid that is always willing to learn. This means empty your cup and be ready to fill it with pure knowledge and wisdom. If you are not humble, there would be no room for knowledge to come through.

Out of many things I would take away, it is that the smallest thing will end up having the biggest impact.

Orlando S

To John and Doug, Derek and Beverly, the Celestielle Travel team, the sponsors, and everyone else behind the scenes, thank you so much for this once in a life time opportunity. This whole trip has honestly felt like a dream. It feels like a movie, sounds like a story, looks like an adventure and smells like nature. Everything on this trip is a new fresh breath of life and experience that I would have never been a part of so I'm very thankful and grateful for everything.

One thing that I've gained on this trip I will never forget is the relationships I've formed with the people around me during my stay at the camps, especially the guides for our game drives (Lets and Stitch). The reason why is because throughout the entire trip, these two have been with us the most and have given us experiences that we will never forget, like seeing the lions and the leopards, the elephants and giraffes even the pangolin, TWICE!

Vili F

One memory I will never forget is being able to sit with the students on a boat cruise knowing about water lilies and how they can be used for an engagement proposal. Out of all the amazing sightings, a flower showed us the connectedness from the culture and wildlife as one. The people and staff's work ethic standards are on a whole another level. Being three months away from their family to be here with us, waking up at 4:30am everyday and caring the way they do shows the value of hard, honest work.

Thank you to the staff and sponsors of Celestielle Travel, for allowing me to represent an organization I have loved and been a part of since a kid on a global scale. This is truly what it's about - showing our youth the world is their oyster. With a little hard work & determination - their dreams can be REALITY.

Tiare M (Student Mentor from TRF)