ELEVEN young Bermudians are completing the final phase of training to ready themselves for an experience of a lifetime in Sabah, Malaysia.

Since the Bermuda arm of Raleigh International, the youth development charity, was revived this year by Michael Spurling and a group of dedicated volunteers, considerable progress has been made in selecting and training the young Bermudians, who will leave for the wilds of northern Borneo later this year.

"We have been able to raise sufficient sponsorship, $135,000, to be able to put 11 young people through the training process since the beginning of February," advised Mr. Spurling.

"That included the first ROAR (Raleigh Outdoor Adventure Residential) camp on Paget Island, and through the National Training Board seminar, and a preparation day in early March, when Ginny Fox came out from Raleigh in London.

"She was able to tell the venturers what to expect on an expedition, and how to take care of themselves in tropical climates, and about medical kits and equipment.

"They have also done five hours at the climbing wall, courtesy of Scott Stallard, learning climbing techniques and abseiling, and this week we have what we call the 'survival' camp, a slightly tougher course than they have been exposed to thus far."

Beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, at Warwick Camp, the youngsters have tackled a number of challenges which will help prepare them for the physical rigours of their expedition, which begins in July.

"They did trekking and physical activity, a final test for building the group and making sure that they have the stamina and commitment," said Mr. Spurling. "Part of the expedition will involve adventure training, which could well be 12 days' trekking through the jungle of Sabah. They will be better trained than most of the venturers from the UK, who will have done nothing more than a ROAR weekend."

The venturers have already completed a swim assessment, where they had to show they could swim 200 metres, and tread water for three minutes, for safety reasons, because they will be in areas with fast-flowing rivers and periods of heavy rainfall.

"Duncan Purvis, who works with the ROAR camps in the UK, is out this week, working with the youngsters to arrange their 'contracts' with each other, when they agree how they will behave with each other during the week, when will they eat, and who will be responsible for that," explained Mr. Spurling.

"He put them through various exercises to encourage bonding with each other, and he also did assessments. The venturers were asked to fill out a ROAR log, like a diary, and he adds his comments and they sit down and discuss it.

"It helps them develop concepts, and avoid conflict. He uses this to assess their readiness to go on expedition, that they are mentally and physically equipped, and they can take advantage of what is being offered. It is essential that they go with the right 'mind-set'."

The expedition venturers are mostly seniors from the Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy, and this week's survival camp was organised to coincide with their Easter school vacation, but three of the young people have been selected from Government community clubs. "On Monday at Warwick Camp, they did things like field-craft training and hygiene, how to survive out there in Sabah, and how to build a camp," reported Mr. Spurling.

"Then they moved to Somerset, where they went deep-sea fishing; they had to catch the fish and gut them, then clean, cook and eat them.

"Then they moved to Spittal Pond, where they did a community project to clean up the area, and on to various exercises at Coney Island. At the end of the week, they are down at St. David's Head for some abseiling, rock climbing and another community project.

"In between, we planned evening briefings and discussions, and training in casualty evacuation. They should be quite well-trained, and we planned it deliberately to take advantage of the holidays. The expedition leaves on July 2, and since the majority are in the graduating year at Berkeley and CedarBridge, they have exams in June.

"So we resolved to leave them alone from mid-April until the middle of June, to let them concentrate on their exams, although they do have to go out and do their fund-raising."

The venturers are expected to raise $1,000 each to pay for equipment and and for "pocket money", and they will also be receiving a number of inoculations to protect them from the very different physical realities of the jungles of Sabah.

"Duncan Purvis' assessment after the first camp was that nearly all of them were ready, and this week will prove how resolved they are to go," said Mr. Spurling.

The venturers' comments suggested that they were very positive about the prospect of their expedition to the other side of the world. Cushi Ming said the time spent with Raleigh had been a very interesting experience.

"I have learnt a great deal of life skills as well as survival skills. It has been very enjoyable."

Terrylynn Cordeiro said: "Raleigh has made a difference to the way I think. The glass is only as empty as the things you take out. Putting back in takes work, but it's worth it."

Ciara Ruth said that the ROAR experience had taught her many things, "like thinking logically, communication skills and leadership skills. I am honoured to have been given this opportunity."

Erin Butterfield said: "The thought that motivates me whenever I feel I can't go on is 'if you do today what other's won't, you can do tomorrow what other's can't'. I have learned that my life and destiny are in my hands."

The cost of the expedition is about $12,000 for each member, and Government and the private sector have joined forces to help the Raleigh expedition become a reality.

"Government is the biggest individual sponsor, having put in about $39,000 for three venturers and staff volunteer Brendan Millett who works with the Junior Cadets. He was in the Regiment, and will provide a mentoring role," said Mr. Spurling.

"The Bank of Bermuda Foundation contributed $24,000, as did the XL Foundation. The Bank of N.T. Butterfield and Ernst & Young both contributed $12,000, and there were generous donations from KPMG, Platinum Partners, Deloitte and Touche, the FIL Foundation, and Orbis.

"This is our first expedition since Raleigh was revived here, and our venturers will be well prepared and raring to go!"

Venturer De Wilton Robinson had sage advice for one so young: "Don't count your days, make your days count."