Meet the Raleigh SES Bursary Winners Embarking on Expeditions This October

This October, we are thrilled to welcome two more Venturers onto our Expeditions through the support of the Raleigh SES Bursary Award.

Thanks to contributions from Raleigh Alumni and Raleigh International, these Venturers will embark on fully-funded Expeditions in South Africa and Costa Rica where they will contribute to impactful projects while developing crucial skills for their futures.

Aaron and Joshua are following in the footsteps of 5 Bursary Venturers who joined us this summer in Costa Rica and South Africa. Over the course of the next three years, 15 young adults will complete a Raleigh International Expedition thanks to the Raleigh SES Award.

We are excited to make Expeditions more accessible and break down barriers so that more young people can participate in these life-changing experiences.

Aaron will join us in Costa Rica and Joshua in South Africa for an exciting and impactful journey. Here’s what both had to say about their upcoming Expeditions!

Aaron, 24

What does it mean to you to join a Raleigh Expedition?

“Being able to join a Raleigh Expedition has given me a great sense of purpose and direction after leaving university as an estranged student. I thrive on being outdoors and helping others, so a Raleigh Expedition is perfect for me. I can’t wait to make a lasting impact that will be so important to the lives of others.

I hope participating in this Expedition helps develop and improve important skills I can take into the future.”

What part of your upcoming Expedition are you most looking forward to?

“I’m most looking forward to developing new skills and making lifelong experiences that I can take with me through life, I’m also excited to meet new people who have like-minded goals and ambitions, and of course, it’s very exciting to be able to explore a new part of the world and culture otherwise out of my reach without the support of a Raleigh Expedition.

Finally, I can’t wait to take the time away from social media and explore without the pressures of the modern world.”

Joshua, 22

What does it mean to you to join a Raleigh Expedition?

“Being selected for the Raleigh Expedition means a lot to me because I enjoy pushing myself and stepping outside of my comfort zone. It also gives me the opportunity to form lasting friendships with people from all walks of life.

Even though I’ll be spending ten weeks away from home, I know that being a part of the trip will help me build the skills I need for life as well as help me grow as a person.

Being selected is amazing; as someone with a care-experienced background and limited travel experience, opportunities like these don’t come around very often.”

What part of your upcoming Expedition are you most looking forward to?

“The aspects of the journey I’m most excited about are the chance to experience such a vastly different way of life, the ability to give back to communities other than my own, and of course the trekking and camping through the mountains.”

Get involved!

Read more about the SES Raleigh Explorer Award here.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn to stay up to date with our Expeditions, Venturers, Projects and Impact!