The first thing we did was go to the slum in Lima and this was a big culture shock for everyone, especially since we’d been complaining about not having our bags (17 had got left in Amsterdam). To see how little they had in the shanty town and what little they survived on…we felt kind of guilty for complaining as we probably had more on us than they had in total. It was a real big shock to realise what we take for granted is all they have and we should appreciate what we’ve got a lot more.’

Student (17), Berwickshire High School

‘It’s completely opened my eyes to what’s out there, it’s given me a bug for overseas travel and it’s helped me decide that I want to go to university and become a nurse as I want to help people as a profession.’

Student (16), Berwickshire High School

It’s definitely changed me, before I never really got on with my parents that much, we would always fight, I never really got on with my sister either and then when I came back, my parents always go on about how much I’ve changed since I’ve come back. Me and my parents are like best friends now because I have parents and I shouldn’t take advantage of that. My tolerance and my patience has grown a lot. I don’t take things for granted so much. It did change me more than I expected it to, I’m going to do Spanish at Uni because I want to go over again, so it has changed me a lot.’

Student (17) Student, Kyle Academy

‘…a huge change in their approach to other people, they’ve become more aware and considerate to others.’

 PE teacher, Kyle Academy