Questoverseas

Kenyans Invent Pedal Powered Phone Charger

2009-07-24T09:53:00.003+01:00

2 Kenyan electrical engineering students have invented a phone charger which runs off the power generated when riding a bike.

It is estimated that some 17.5 million people out of Kenya's 38.5 million population own a mobile handset - up from 200,000 in 2000, however in rural areas without easy access to electricity, charging a mobile phone can be extremely difficult. People have to travel great distances to shops where they are charged $2 a time to power their phone, usually from a car battery or solar panel. Both coming from small villages, Jeremiah Murimi, 24, and Pascal Katana, 22, said they wanted to help those without electricity in rural areas.

Bikes in Kenya are already sold with a dynamo attached to the back wheel to power the lights, this instead can be plugged into the phone charger - about an hours pedalling will fully charge the phone!

Kenya's National Council for Science and Technology has backed the project, and at least one NGO working in Kenya are interested in testing the chargers, proving it to be an absolutely cracking idea. The students hope they will find a way of mass-producing the chargers. At the moment they have only hand-made 2 of the tiny devices using bits from scrapped radios and TVs.

Read the full BBC story

Find out more about Quest Overseas' Water Relief Project in Kenya!

No longer just Justgiving

2009-07-23T16:53:00.005+01:00

Virgin Money is launching an online fundraising site which will be the official online giving engine of the London Marathon, potentially sidelining Justgiving.The financial arm of the Virgin empire, Virgin Money has launched Virgin Money Giving, a website which will enable individuals to raise money for charities registered on the website for the London Marathon and other events and causes.

Virgin Money Giving will begin operation this summer to allow people to fundraise for the first Virgin London Marathon in 2010, the first of its five-year sponsorship deal with the event. Justgiving, meanwhile, has worked with the London Marathon since 2002, raising £62.5m for charities supported by runners.

The arrival of Virgin Money Giving could potentially dint the former’s hold on the lucrative fundraising event. However, Justgiving has officially welcomed the entry of a would-be competitor.

Managing director at Justgiving Anne-Marie Huby said: “We believe that anything that gives charities more choice in their online fundraising is a great thing, so we welcome Virgin to the sector.”

This launch, many would say, is coming at an opportune moment, since the recent launch of the new Justgiving site was riddled with problems. It seems Sir Richard has got it right again...!

Amazon in final for "new" Seven Wonders!

2009-07-22T10:58:00.004+01:00

As of yesterday lunchtime the 28 finalists for the new Seven Wonders of the World were announced! These were chosen from a list of 77 nominees by the New7Wonders Panel of Experts.

Among the 28 final choices are the Amazon River and Rainforest, Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil, Angel Falls, The Galapagos, The Grand Canyon and The Great Barrier Reef.

The Amazon Basin spans 7 million square kilometers and the forest occupies some 5.5 million square kilometers; it is located within nine countries: Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana; Suriname and Venezuela. It represents over half of the planet's rapidly disappearing rainforests and is the largest and most species-rich area of tropical rainforest in the world!

The Iguazu Falls consist of 275 falls along 1.7 miles and are nestled on the boarder between Argentina and Brazil and taller than the more famous Niagara Falls.

Competition organizers expect more than a billion people to participate in the online voting, which will continue into 2011, when the 7 finalists by categories will be announced, so still plenty of time to vote at www.new7wonders.com !

Check out our South American Gap Trips and Summer Trips for the chance to experience both living in the heart of the Amazon rainforest and to venture to the amazing Iguazu Falls !

350.org - a workable solution for the planet?

2009-07-20T13:11:00.004+01:00

350.org was founded by U.S. author Bill McKibben, who wrote "The End of Nature" in 1989, a book regarded as the first one written for the general public on climate change.

It is based on a statistic provided by scentific research, and backed by climate experts and many governments. 350 parts per million of CO2 is considered the maximum safe level for humanity to exist on the planet for the long term - we are currently at 390.18! Current environmental targets set by the leading governments will not reach this target of 350.

October 24th has been set as the international day of climate change, and people round the world are encouraged to speak up on this day, so that the worlds leaders will take notice in advance of the UN Climate Change conference in Copenhagen in December this year.

Find out more about the campaign at http://www.350.org/ and watch the video above.

Quest Leader setting new challenge

2009-07-20T10:30:00.004+01:00

For anyone who has a Facebook account (or any online presence for that matter), you will have received at least the one message about a friend or relative doing some crazy fitness challenge. Marathons, triathlons, epic cycle journeys, who says we live in an obese Britain?!

Anyway, it seems this "challenge fever" has hit our Quest leaders this year as well. One of the treks which many of our teams in South America enjoy is into the Colca Canyon, three days trekking the 1000m vertical to the bottom, and then back up again! It's a beautiful trek, taking us through local villages and over raging rivers, lots to see.

With super expedition leader Robert Thoren though, he decided to use the route as a time trial. Having a bit of a break between leading teams, he decided to run the three day trek, in 4 hours 29 minutes! This is annoying for two reasons: firstly, because it really is just showing off; but secondly, because the rest of is won't be able to resist trying to better it!

Damn you Thoren!

To see how to enjoy this trek at a pace where you can actually take in the views (!), check out our Andean Expedition.

Quest Greenhouse Bears Fruit

2009-07-16T11:04:00.002+01:00

Just for Andy...the first pictures of the very first Quest Overseas tomatoes. It looks to be a bumper crop out in the Quest greenhouse with a whopping 6 individual tomatoes merrily growing away at the moment. Lets hope these are the first of many!

Richard Dimbleby Lecture by Prince Charles

2009-07-10T12:32:00.003+01:00

The Prince of Wales issued a stark warning about impending environmental catastrophe, telling an audience: "If we fail the Earth, we fail humanity."

Giving the 33rd Richard Dimbleby lecture, The Prince set out his vision for tackling what he said were the pressing problems of the "environmental crisis", and spoke of an economic system with "enormous shortcomings".

A new order was needed to combat these issues which moved away from a "mechanistic" approach to one that was more "balanced and integrated with nature's complexity", The Prince said.

You can see the entire lecture on BBC iPlayer here

The lecture is held in honour of the veteran broadcaster, who died in 1965.

So Why Are Cheetahs So Speedy...?

2009-07-10T11:52:00.005+01:00

Cheetah chasing chicken on a string...

Scientists at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) are attempting to find out exactly what makes the cheetah the fastest animal on the planet.

Cheetahs can reach speeds of at least 104km/h (64mph) and they can achieve their top speed in just a few paces. This is 50% faster than any of the other animals the scientists are familiar with.

The study is being carried out with the help of ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, where cheetahs in captivity are being enticed to run by tying chicken - wings and feet appear to be a cheetah delicacy - to a piece of fast moving string (pulled along by an electric motor. Special plates in a running track and 4 extremely high speed camaras monitor the cheetah as it runs.

Results so far are inconclusive, although the scientists have noticed that when a cheetahs run it does different things with either side of its body - it has an asymmetric gait. This could have something to do with it.

Unfortunately the cheetahs cant reach top speed in the enclosure at Whipnade - the team are hoping in future they will be able to continue their research using cheetahs in a larger area.

Watch the video and read the full BBC story here.

Spot cheetahs in Botswana during our 6 week African Expedition.

Harvard Admissions Tutor on the Benefits of Gap Years

2009-07-08T14:12:00.003+01:00

In a recent article entitled "Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation", William Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions at the prestigious Harvard University has extolled the virtues of taking a gap year and has recommended that more American students should consider the option of a year out between High School and college.

He says...

"Students taking a year off prior to Harvard are doing what students from the U.K. do with their so-called "gap year." Other countries have mandatory military service for varying periods of time. Regardless of why they took the year off or what they did, students are effusive in their praise. Many speak of their year away as a "life-altering" experience or a "turning point," and most feel that its full value can never be measured and will pay dividends the rest of their lives. Many come to college with new visions of their academic plans, their extracurricular pursuits, the intangibles they hoped to gain in college, and the career possibilities they observed in their year away. Virtually all would do it again.

Nevertheless, taking time off can be a daunting prospect for students and their parents. Students often want to follow friends on safer and more familiar paths. Parents worry that their sons and daughters will be sidetracked from college, and may never enroll. Both fear that taking time off can cause students to "fall behind" or lose their study skills irrevocably. That fear is rarely justified. High school counselors, college administrators, and others who work with students taking time off can help with reassurance that the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Occasionally students are admitted to Harvard or other colleges in part because they accomplished something unusual during a year off. While no one should take a year off simply to gain admission to a particular college, time away almost never makes one a less desirable candidate or less well prepared for college. "

Read the whole article here.

To see all Quest Overseas Gap Year options click here!

For advice on how to choose a worthwhile and sustainable voluntary project take a look at http://www.ethicalvolunteering.org/

New monkey found in Brazil!

2009-07-08T12:01:00.005+01:00

Researchers have discovered a new sub-species of monkey in a remote part of the Amazon rain forest - the Mura's Saddleback Tamarin!

The newly found monkey was first spotted by scientists in 2007 in the Brazilian state of Amazonas and is related to the saddleback tamarin monkeys, known for their distinctively marked backs.

The small monkey, which is mostly gray and brown and weighs 213 grams, has been named the Mura's saddleback tamarin after the Mura Indian tribe of the Purus and Madeira river basins where the new sub-species was found. It is 24cm tall with a foot long tail.

"This newly described monkey shows that even today there are major wildlife discoveries to be made," Fabio Rohe, the lead author of a study confirming the new discovery, said in a statement released by the WCS.

The study found that the monkey is threatened by development projects in the region, including a major highway through the forest that is being paved and which could fuel deforestation.

"This discovery should serve as a wake-up call that there is still so much to learn from the world's wild places, yet humans continue to threaten these areas with destruction," Rohe said.

If you want to help protect the threatened species of the Amazon Rainforest, join our one of our Bolivian Animal Project teams next year

How to deal with homesickness while away

2009-07-06T14:42:00.005+01:00

We all miss things while away from home, whether it's friends, family or bacon sandwiches. The good news is, the more you travel, the easier it gets, as you know you will be coming home soon (and let's be honest, not much will have changed). But if we're honest, we'll always miss something, no matter how much we've travelled, so it's nice to have a bit of reassurance that all is well at home from time to time.

Testament to this is our experienced expedition leader and Africa manager Andy Deaville. He's currently out in Africa visiting our project sites in Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya, as well as researching a new Expedition route through Uganda, very exciting! Whenever he contacts the office though, the first question we get is "how's my vegetable patch?"!!!

Well Andy, to help you sleep better at night under the African stars, here are some photos of your loved ones blossoming away the the office garden, we're taking good care of them!

To find out more about our expeditions in Africa, click here

Nelson's Column Upstaged?

2009-07-06T12:10:00.005+01:00

Wondering what to do with your summer? Perhaps you'd like to make a statement being a part of one of London's most famous monuments. If that does sound tempting, then you might want to join Anthony Gormley's "One and Other" project in Trafalgar Square. For the next 100 days, the square's "fourth plinth" will be occupied by a different person every hour, 24 hours a day. You can do whatever you like, the only rule - keep it legal.

The project has already received thousands of applicants but there is still time to try your luck, just go onto the one and other website for details on how to take part.

You'll also see there is a live video stream of the plinth on their website - if Big Brother has finally got too dull for you, maybe this will fill the gap...

Andy in East Africa

2009-07-01T07:30:00.005+01:00

First of all I have to congratulate the entire Tanzania GAP 2009 team for their efforts at Waang'waray School. The new classroom is incredible and is already in use by the kids so that they can get top notch primary education. The task for the 2010 team will be to finish another classroom so that the School will have a total of 8 classrooms. They have also been experimenting with new techniques on the schools farm by growong vegetables in bags. This requires less water, the plants grow faster and they are less prone to disease!

Next stop is Uganda to check out some activities for Quest Overseas new exciting expedition as part of our Kenya GAP trip departing in January 2010. On the list are visits to monkey island and white water rafting. Watch this space for updates on our Kenya and Malawi Summer Projects over the next few weeks!

Andy - Africa Operations Manager in Arusha, Tanzania

Africa GAP 2010

See us at Cheltenham Ladies' College today!

2009-06-30T09:41:00.004+01:00

Vicky & I will be at Cheltenham Ladies' College this afternoon from 2:30-4:30pm at their annual Gap Year Fair. Now exams are over it's the perfect time to start thinking about what you might want to do on your gap year - either this year or the year after. There will be representatives from loads of Gap Year Organisations there so do come along for a chat and to find out more about the projects we offer in Africa and South America.

Directions to Cheltenham Ladies' College can be found here!

Click here to see all the projects and expeditions departing next year!

Gap Year Fair at Oundle School

2009-06-25T14:28:00.003+01:00

Now that exams are coming to an end its a perfect time to start thinking about what your options are for a Gap Year next year. So why not come down to Oundle School in Oundle, near Peterborough tomorrow and have a chat with us to find out more about our projects and expeditions in Africa and South America.

We will be there (along with loads of other gap year organisations) from 5-7pm so do come and say hello!

If you need directions to Oundle School just click here.

Find out more about gap year opportunities with Quest Overseas in Africa and South America.

Run the Brighton Marathon for Quest4Change!

2009-06-24T12:13:00.005+01:00

Exciting news - the 1st ever Brighton Marathon will be held next year on 18th April 2010 and places are going fast!

If you fancy tackling the 26 mile route taking in the best of the city centre, fabulous stretches of coastal road and stunning views over the South Downs why not run for Quest4Change and support our projects in Africa and South America. Over the last 13 years Quest4Change has raised over £1.2 million to alleviate poverty and protect endangered environments through the support of worthwhile and sustainable projects.

Be a member of the Quest4Change Brighton Marathon Team and we will help you with fundraising and training.

You'll receive:

Sponsorship Forms

A Quest4Change t-shirt

A marathon training program

You get entrance to a special "Charity Runner Hospitality" area at the start and end of the race which includes food and drink, extra toilets and a dedicated bag drop.

Information about the projects your fundraising will support

Marathon route through Brighton & Hove

For more details take a look at the Quest4Change website or get in touch with Heather on 01273 77206 or by email heather@questoverseas.com

For more information on the marathon itself visit http://www.brightonmarathon.co.uk/

Quest Lettuce

2009-06-23T17:16:00.004+01:00

Today marked a momentous occasion in the Quest office...after weeks of careful planting, re-planting and watering Andy's efforts to create a makeshift vegetable haven in the back garden have finally paid off. In his absence (sorry!) we enjoyed the first taste of Quest lettuce, hopefully soon to be followed by Quest courgettes, Quest tomatoes, more Quest lettuce, Quest aubergines and Quest chili peppers...watch this space!

Not quite what the Quest Overseas greenhouse looks like...

The verdict...tasty, in a lettucy kind of way.

Come visit us at Eton on Saturday

2009-06-19T15:35:00.005+01:00

The forecast for this weekend is looking pretty good, but before you head on down to the beach, to the last day at Royal Ascot, or perhaps even to Silverstone, you might want to stop by and find out more about your gap year options at Eton College. We'll be there from 10.30am until midday, as will dozens of other gap year providers, so do stop by and ask us about our expeditions in South America and Africa.

You can find out how to get to Eton on their website by clicking here

Want to see your gap year options with Quest? Click here to see our team departures for 2010

Repton School Gap Year Fair Today!

2009-06-16T09:27:00.005+01:00

Si and Jon will be at Repton School in Derbyshire this evening for their annual Gap Year Fair. The event starts at 7:30pm and finishes at 9pm. Click here for directions to the school!

Do come along and say hello, ask questions about our projects or just for a chat about gap years, Africa or South America in general!

Our nude Hero!

2009-06-15T17:18:00.006+01:00

A massive congratulations to Ted who in the name of charity exposed himself to Brighton and Hove. Wearing only socks and sunglasses (so to not get caught looking at the other riders privates) Ted managed the uncomfortable ride in aid of raising funds to buy two much needed wheel chairs for the kids of Casa Lar. Unfortunately he did however forget to wear any sun cream, silly Ted!

If you want to know more about he effects of exposure to the sun please follow the link bellow.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/sunburn/article_em.htm

If you wish to know more about the reason behind the nudity and volunteering at Casa Lar then please click on this link http://www.questoverseas.com/south_america/rio.php

A massive well done Ted!

Quest Nudity on Southern FM

2009-06-12T14:16:00.005+01:00

Continuing the Naked Bike Ride theme, have a listen to Southern FM's interview with Heather about the upcoming big event to raise money for the boys of Casa Lar in Rio. To hear her 5 minutes of fame on the Southern FM website simply click on the link here! The bike ride kicks off this Sunday on the Level in Brighton at 12pm, before heading down to the nudist beach for a paddle and a picnic in the buff.

To sponsor the guys to get their kit off and to help us raise enough to buy two new wheelchairs for Junior de Silva and Daniel Netto (and ensure Si and Heather have to join in!!) simply visit www.justgiving.com/nakedted

Volunteer at Casa Lar and join in the world famous Rio Carnival next year!

Tanzania GAP 2009 video is here!

2009-06-11T17:02:00.004+01:00

Quest in the Mid Sussex Times

2009-06-11T16:49:00.003+01:00

Please click on the article to enlarge the text.

Quest Gets Naked for Casa Lar

2009-06-10T15:45:00.009+01:00

This Sunday various members of the Quest Office will be getting their kit off to join the 4th World Naked Bike Ride, in Brighton. Ted, Heather and Si will be cycling along the seafront in the buff, paddling in the sea and getting involved in a very naked picnic.

Please support Ted who is raising money for Quest4Change to provide new wheelchairs for Junior de Silva and Daniel Netto two disabled boys who live at Casa Lar in Rio. The new chairs will give Junior and Daniel (who is blind) the freedom to live more comfortable, fuller lives.

If we raise £500 Ted will bear all, if we reach £750 Simon will join him and if we get to £1,000 in just 5 days then Heather will be joining the naked boys on the seafront for some cycling freedom.

Life for the disabled boys of Casa Lar has never been easy and this year things have been particularly precarious. The boys are in desperate need of new wheelchairs and just £1,000 will cover the cost. So dig deep, charge your camera batteries and support staff nudity for this excellent cause.

To sponsor Ted, Simon and Heather simply go to www.justgiving.com/nakedted

Volunteer at Casa Lar in Rio next year!

Marlborough College Gap Fair Tomorrow

2009-06-08T16:34:00.002+01:00

Simon will be at Marlborough College Gap Fair in sunny Wiltshire tomorrow (Tuesday 9th) from 2-3pm. If you would like any information about any of our projects and expeditions, want some advice about gap years in general or have some questions about Africa or South America then do come and say hello!

Directions to Marlborough College can be found here!

HOME - World Environment Day Movie

2009-06-05T09:00:00.004+01:00

It's finally out, click here to watch it.

Lucy King single-handedly saves the Elephants!

2009-06-04T11:30:00.002+01:00

Okay, maybe that title is a little bold... but she has more than done her bit though. Ex Quest Overseas Africa director Lucy King has been working on a method of protecting both elephants and local farms in Kenya, as part of her PhD study. After discovering that elephants are scared of bees, they have started to construct fences around local plantations with bee hives incorporated in them. This stops the elephants from breaking into the plantations and devouring all their crops, and also means that local farmers don't resort to shooting trespassing elephants - everyone's a winner.

Her work has had international acclaim, with National Geographic Magazine, BBC wildlife and most impressively Have I Got News for You (!) all having featured her work recently.

You can read an article on the BBC website with more detail on her work here

Well done King, we're proud of you!

Send your Darwins this World Environmental Day

2009-06-03T09:35:00.005+01:00

In the run up to World Environment Day this Friday 5th June, Fauna and Flora International (FFI) want you to send them your “Darwins”.

Click here to see how

This could help FFI to:

• Equip a ranger in the Democratic Republic of Congo with basic kit, so he is prepared to protect the world’s remaining mountain gorillas in the face of adversity.

• Tag and ensure a safe passage to the ocean for one nesting female leatherback turtle on the threatened Nicaraguan coastline.

Quest Overseas Staff selection for 2010

2009-06-02T12:39:00.003+01:00

Do you have a passion for travel, excellent leadership and organisational skills and the commitment to make our projects and expeditions a 'trip of a lifetime'?

Are you looking to work in Africa or South America in 2010 leading groups of young people on challenging projects and expeditions?

If this sounds like you then why not find out more about becoming a Quest Overseas leader. Just e-mail info@questoverseas for a leader pack and application form. If we think you have what it takes we will invite you along to our 2 day staff selection on the 4th and 5th September.

Looking for experience in the Gap Year market, then why not volunteer with Quest Overseas?

Crossing the South Downs for Malawian Orphans

2009-06-01T12:33:00.004+01:00

Here at Quest we are extremely proud of the partnerships we have with our various projects in South America and Africa. One which we are particularly delighted to be associated with is the Joshua Orphan Care Trust, which supports community-driven sustainable development projects to assist HIV/AIDS orphans, vulnerable children, and their families in Malawi.

A good friend of Quest Overseas and the Joshua charity is currently preparing herself to support their cause some more. After visiting the orphanages in Malawi, Baz Troubridge decided that a fitting way to demonstrate the distances some of these kids have to walk every day, was to walk from Eastbourne to Winchester to help raise funds for the children they work with.

So if you are on the South Downs Way in mid-June, do pack a little more water in case you come across Baz taking on the 100 mile trek (especially if it stays this warm!)

In the meantime though, you can help further by sponsoring her here

Memories of learning to ride a bike

2009-06-01T10:56:00.003+01:00

The Quest Overseas pre school in Villa Maria, Lima, Peru is going from strength to strength. Thanks to an increased donation from the charity La Vida, we have this year been able to double the number of free places at the school, with scholarships being handed out to those in most need of support.

Peru doesn't need much excuse to have a party, this week's festival was "Pre school Week"! The school marked the occasion by holding a bikeathon, with some of the kids learning to cycle for the first time. Apart from a couple of grazed knees, it was a great day, keep up the good work guys.

HOME - A film to be released 5th June

2009-05-29T14:50:00.004+01:00

HOME is a feature film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand shot from above in more that 50 countries.

HOME addresses our impact on the planet and sets out our current situation but keeps the faith that a solution exists. More than a movie, HOME will be a major event all over the globe. On June 5th, World Environment Day, HOME will be released in over 50 countries and on every format : movie theatre, TV, DVD and Internet.

The above preview helps to set the scene, come back here on the 5th to see the entire movie.

For more information about the HOME, click here

Eton shut for a week, time to plan your gap year!

2009-05-28T17:28:00.007+01:00

Eton College is the latest place in the UK to suffer from swine flu. After confirming one student tested positive for the virus, they have decided to close the school for a week as a precautionary measure.

As this is one of the finest schools in the country, we are sure that the boys won't be taking this week off to party all night and lie in til late, rather it is the perfect time to revise for exams, or maybe plan for your GAP YEAR!

To help you with this, here are a few tips to get started. Quest Overseas is of course one option for your gap year, but to find out about some of the other established organisations out there, take a look at the Year Out Group website, where you will find links to all different kinds of structured placements.

If you are thinking of volunteering, the Ethical Volunteering website gives you an excellent set of questions to ask any volunteer placement organisation, to make sure the work you will be doing is truly worthwhile.

All being well though, the school should be open in time for the Eton College Gap Fair, on Saturday 20th June, from 10.30am to 12pm. We will be there, as will a number of other organisations. Make sure you stop by to learn about the wealth of options available to you!

Any other questions, feel free to contact us.

Brazil Project Close to Fundraising Target

2009-05-27T17:52:00.004+01:00

Although the team's time at the Rio project in Brazil over for the year, their work is far from done. They have set up a fundraising page to help support some fundamental needs which came to their attention while at the project. They are so close to their £4,000 target, if you feel you can help them please dig deep.

Our project is based at Casa Lar in the Mangueira favela, a home for mentally handicapped children and young people. The campaign is to raise much needed funds to pay for new wheelchairs, medicine and sheets for their home. Every penny raised is going directly to support the project in Brazil.

To donate to the Brazil project, click on their Justgiving page here

To learn more about our project in Brazil, click here

Money saving tips for gap year students brought to you from today's Telegraph

2009-05-27T10:22:00.001+01:00

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service says that about 33,000 students are currently on gap years before they take up their university places in the autumn, and a similar number are expected to defer their entry this year.
Many students are now using this time off to earn money to put towards higher education costs.
With a typical three-year degree costing in the region of £42,000, according to the Children's Mutual, and many parents less able to help out with costs due to the recession, this is likely to prove a sensible option.
Younger people often earn poor rates of pay, but the good news is that this month the Government announced that the minimum wage rate for 18 to 21 year-olds will increase marginally from October, from £4.77 an hour to £4.83 an hour.
Employers will also be banned from using tips and service charges to "top up" staff pay to meet the minimum wage from October, which should help those working as waiters or bar staff.
However, if someone leaves you a tip by adding it on to their debit or credit card bill, this money can still be used to pay restaurants' other expenses and so may not be passed on.
It is worth making sure that if you are using your gap year to work, you don't end up overpaying tax.
If you work and pay tax during the year, but earn less than your personal allowance, which is £6,475 for the 2009-2010 tax year, you could be eligible for a tax refund.
You can complete a P50 to claim a tax repayment if this is the case. You will need to send it to your tax office with your P45, which you should have been given by your employer when you left your job.
The time limit for making a repayment claim is five years and 10 months from the end of the tax year. So, for example, you must make a claim for repayment of tax paid in the tax year that ended in April 2004 by January 31 2010.
For more information, HM Revenue and Customs has a website designed to make dealing with tax easier for students at www.studenttaxadvice.org.uk. The site also has a calculator to help students work out if they have overpaid tax or not.
Students who want to spend part of their gap year travelling will also have to do plenty of financial planning.
Comprehensive travel insurance is vital so that you will be protected if anything goes wrong, and gap year travellers need special cover which lasts the length of the trip. If you are planning to go away for several months, then you will need an extended travel policy rather than an annual policy.
While annual policies provide cover for a year, each trip is usually limited to a set number of days.
Comparison websites such as moneysupermarket.com and money.co.uk can enable you to compare the cost of extended policies, but make sure you compare cover limits carefully, because cheapest is not necessarily best.
If you are planning adventurous activities while you are away, such as scuba-diving or white-water rafting, check the small print on your policy to see if you are covered. As well as insurance, anyone travelling for a long period of time needs to work out the most cost effective way to withdraw cash while they are abroad.
Most students wouldn't be eligible for a credit card, and should avoid them anyway to prevent running up debts before university, but for those wanting a debit card that doesn't charge over the odds for use abroad, Nationwide's Flex Account Visa Debit card is the best one to use.
However, remember that from June 1 a 0.84pc fee will apply to worldwide debit card transactions, excluding Europe, rising to 1pc from July, so you won't be able to completely escape foreign usage charges.
Another option is to take a prepaid card. The idea is that you load it up with money before you go and then use it to pay for things and withdraw cash whilst abroad.
FairFX is one of the best-value prepaid cards and you can load it with either US dollars or euros. There is an initial application fee of £9.95, but after that the only charge is either €1.50 or $2 each time you withdraw cash.
You can top up the card by bank transfer and you can only spend what is on it, so it can be useful for budgeting. The card can be used at any retailer with an electronic terminal that accepts MasterCard.
Whatever post-exam plans A-level students might have this summer, and as boring as it may seem, a bit of careful financial planning is always wise, especially as every penny will count when it's time to start higher education.

Thank you Zoe, Villa Maria will miss you!

2009-05-26T12:36:00.006+01:00

Zoe McGivern, pictured above sharing her fantastic cooking skills during the first cake making lesson at our Villa Maria school in Lima, Peru, has been supporting the teaching programme out there since September last year. Her main work has been teaching English to the school kids, aged 3 to 7, but that has been far from the full story of the help she has given. Building houses for single mothers, working in the community nurseries, helping in after school homework, sport and dance classes, helping to raise over £5,000 to pay for a young girl's life saving operation, and keeping the school dog Nena fit with her daily runs around the nearby track are just a few of the achievements she can boast.

She has unfortunately had to cut her time there short by a couple of months, due to a family illness back in the UK, but thanks to the tireless effort you have put into your time there Zoe, you have a home and a family waiting for you in Peru whenever you have the chance to go back - thank you!

This does mean however, that we are in need of an English teacher at our project in Peru. Whereas we normally put together teams of volunteers for our projects, this is a bit of a one off for us, so we are keen to find the right person. If you think you can help, have a look at the details of our Villa Maria Project and contact us with any further questions.

Here is a video the kids put together for Zoe to say goodbye - very sweet!

Holiday hustle

2009-05-26T09:55:00.003+01:00

Check out the new series of 'the real hustle' on BBC3 and find out how to avoid the con abroad. Episode 1 includes 'the teddy bear', 'fake taxi driver' and learning how to rip a phone book in half!
Catch the programme on Mondays at 8.30pm or on BBCiplayer.

Gap Fair on Saturday - Rugby School

2009-05-21T11:21:00.002+01:00

Andy and I will be at Rugby School on Saturday for their annual Gap Fair so do come along and say hi. The fair kicks off at 9:30am and finishes at 11:45am - directions to Rugby School can be found here!

If you have any questions at all about any of our projects or expeditions, Africa and South America or gap years in general we're more than happy to have a chat with you!

Bolivia have decided to tunnel back to the Sea

2009-05-19T09:53:00.005+01:00

Plans for a tunnel linking Bolivia to the Pacific Ocean have been unveiled by three architects who say it could put an end to a 130 year-old dispute between the landlocked country and its neighbour, Chile.

The three Chilean architects claim the tunnel would allow Bolivia to regain access to the sea since it was defeated by Chile in the Pacific War in 1879.

This has been one of Bolivia's main demands for years, and is still strongly voiced by current President Evo Morales.

The 150km (93 miles) tunnel would run from the Bolivian border to an artificial island created in the Pacific Ocean from earth dug to build the tunnel.

For more information on this highly unfeasible project click here.

Special Internet Cafe moment

2009-05-14T15:49:00.002+01:00

What else are you meant to do when a classic such as 'Hero' comes on in an Internet cafe in Babati, Tanzania? Nice one Dixon and the girls!

More videos from Tanzania are coming very soon so watch this space!

Want to volunteer in Tanzania in 2010?

Going Bananas for Fuel in Africa

2009-05-13T14:45:00.004+01:00

Researchers at Nottingham University have come up with an ingenious new and sustainable source of fuel across Africa....Bananas.

Bananas are an important and versatile crop across many countries in Africa, being used for food, wine and beer. However, according to the scientists for every tonne of bananas, there are an estimated 10 tonnes of waste, generally made up of skins, leaves and stems.

The idea for the fuel is simple and low tech. Rotting banana skins are mashed into pulp and mixed with sawdust, compressed and dried to make briquettes. These ignite quickly and throw out a steady heat which makes them an ideal alternative to firewood for cooking.

The briquettes can be made by hand, meaning no large financial outlay is needed for countries to be able to produce them. This idea could not only alleviate burden of collecting firewood in areas where this is scarce, but will also reduce deforestation caused by the need for fuel.

Countries such as Tanzania, one of Africa's largest producers of bananas, could find this new source of fuel ideal, as at present around 80% of its energy needs are met from burning wood, with serious environmental consequences.

Read more about banana fuel on the BBC website

Find out more about our projects in Tanzania!

Employee of the Month Sarah Brimble!!

2009-05-11T14:47:00.005+01:00

The much coveted "Quest Employee of the Month" award for May has been awarded to our superstar leader Sarah Brimble. Currently assistant on the Bolivia Expedition, she not only quietly endures the rants of the team leader Matt, but also lovingly cared for the two students which weren't well enough to take part in the latest trek - we're now including "must be happy to collect student poo for hospital tests" as part of the leader job role. Sarah, you're the best!

If you want to know more about the Ambue Ari animal park, (or Sarah) and how you can get involved with one of the most unique projects in the world please call us in the office 01273 777206 or click this link http://www.questoverseas.com/south_america/ambue_ari_project_bolivia.php

Dancing for Villa Maria

2009-05-11T13:50:00.006+01:00

Last week, Penny and Kevan Ashbridge organised a Salsa Evening in memory of their Daughter Katie.

The pennies are still being counted, but latest figures suggest the event raised over £6000 for our project in Villa Maria, with which 12 families will now be built new homes, Katieville continues to grow!

The night was great fun and for a great cause. Thank you to everyone who took part.

To read more about the our project in Villa Maria, click here.

Africa Unite @ Spiegeltent Brighton

2009-05-11T11:34:00.005+01:00

The Spiegeltent has come to Brighton and makes up part of the Brighton Fringe festival on now until the 23rd May. This Tuesday the tent will host a night of African fever with live sets by Yiri Baa, Nana Tsiboe and the Supa High Life Band. Check out details on-line now for tickets (£8) and join in with some outrageous singing and dancing!

Check out some of the best sites and sounds that Africa has to offer with our 6 week summer expedition.

The classic Expedition treat!

2009-05-08T14:35:00.004+01:00

All you need is some biscuits, bananas, condensed milk and some cream to make this simple pudding anywhere in the world.

Step 1: Crush the biscuit and mix with melted butter. Firmly press this into a cake tin or any other vessel you have which is suitable (i.e. Tupperware or a large sauce pan). Place in fridge or cold river to set.

Step 2: Boil a can of condensed milk until the contents has turned to caramel.

Step 3: Be extremely careful when opening the can, contents will be hot and under pressure. Pour onto biscuit base.

Step 4: Remove skins and finely chop banana. Add on top of caramel.

Step 5: Add cream to top and add a little crushed biscuit to decorate.

Ingredients for 4 people:
knob of butter
1 large packet of biscuits
3 bananas
1 tin condensed milk
some cream
artistic flare

A break from the gap fairs - phew!

2009-05-05T09:17:00.002+01:00

April has been a busy month. With an average of 3 gap fairs per week, we have been burning up the miles on the motorways with some gusto. It's been great to hear what everyone wants to get up to and see all the other options up there, but I think all the driving nearly sent Simon mad (see the photo of him above, at the last gap fair of the month in Berkhamsted).

We've got a bit of a break from it all for a few weeks, but if you still want to ask about the different options for your gap year, do just get in touch

World Mandela Day

2009-04-29T12:13:00.004+01:00

Two charities, The Nelson Mandela Foundation and 46664, are calling for the establishment of a global "Mandela Day" to mark the former South African President's birthday on 18th July. The charities are hosting events in New York this year but want the marking of the date to be an annual, global event.

The aims of the charities are for people in all corners of the planet to give 67 minutes of their time to good causes every 18th July. The 67 minutes reflecting the 67 years Mandela spent as an activist. 46664 and The Nelson Mandela Foundation hope that marking this day each year will be a "call to action for people to recognise their individual power to make an imprint and help change the world around them for the better".

In a statement released by Mandela he says "We would be honoured if such a day can serve to bring together people around the world to fight poverty and promote peace and reconciliation."

The charity 46664 (the number Mandela wore during his years in prison) was formed to increase HIV/Aids awareness.

Read the BBC news story here.

Quest Overseas at yet more Gap Year Fairs

2009-04-28T13:14:00.003+01:00

Once again we here at Quest Overseas will be at various Gap Year fairs across the southern end of the country this week.

Starting with Andy and Jon at Esher College in Surrey today. They will be giving a talk as well as attending the fair from 2 - 8pm so do go and say hi! Click here for directions to Esher College.

Later today Si will be at Bryanston School in Dorset from 5:30 - 7:30pm. Directions down to the school can be found here!

Tomorrow (29th April) Si will be giving a talk and presentation about gap years at Richmond College at 12:15pm. For information on how to find Richmond College click here.

Thursday 30th April we will be at Berkhamsted Collegiate School in Hertfordshire for another gap year fair from 7pm. Once again click here for directions to the school!

It would be fantastic to see you at these events so if you do have any questions or would like any advice about Gap Years do come and say hi to us!

Boliva and Paraguay put a land dispute and war behind them.

2009-04-28T11:13:00.002+01:00

Bolivia and Paraguay have signed an agreement settling a border dispute, which led to a bitter war in the 1930s.

Bolivian President Evo Morales, who signed the pact in Buenos Aires with Paraguayan counterpart Fernando Lugo, described it as historic.

Argentina has played a key role in resolving the dispute.

Mr Morales blamed multi-national oil firms - in their quest for natural resources - for fuelling the Chaco war, which claimed 100,000 lives.

The key energy companies operating in the region at the time were US Standard Oil, backed by Bolivia, and the Anglo-Dutch Shell Oil company, supported by Paraguay.

President Lugo expressed the hope that natural resources could now "be developed and used by both countries without any foreign intervention."

Rich in mineral and energy resources, Bolivia is one of South America's poorest countries.

From the bbc

Well done to Quest Marathon girls

2009-04-27T16:28:00.003+01:00

It was a scorcher! But they all finished it, a massive well done to ex-Quest students Amy Hammond, Heather Rayment and Jenny Bloomfield for completing the 26.2 mile London Marathon yesterday.

They made it look so easy, Heather was still waving at the crowds on the final straight, Amy had hardly broken into a sweat at mile 20 and Jenny was knocking back the Corona and lime within half an hour of crossing the finishing line - we'd like to think Quest helped make them like this!

With the 2010 marathon already open for applications, the London Marathon website had crashed with all the hits from potential new runners - don't think Jordan's completing it makes it easy though (well done to Katie by the way - she raised £220,000 for her charity Vision!)

Earth Day - What you do counts

2009-04-22T14:37:00.006+01:00

Today, April 22 2009, is Earth Day

What are you doing to save the planet? Walking to work instead of driving? Recycling more than usual? Using less water? Or simply, not leaving appliances on standby? These are the sort of questions they are asking everybody this year for Earth Day.
Earth Day has grown in momentum annually since its humble beginnings back in April 1970, over 500 million people in 85 countries around the world are expected to celebrate Earth Day this year.

See whats going on this year on earth day and what you can do to make a difference.

Earth Day

What you do counts!

South Africa Elect

2009-04-22T12:49:00.004+01:00

Today 23 million registered voters will decide between 156 political parties that have registered in South Africa's 4th general election held since the apartheid era.

It is likely that the ANC (African National Congress) will remain in power under the leadership of Jacob Zuma (pictured far right). Under their charismatic leader Nelson Mandela (pictured middle) the ANC have faught against white minority rule. The issues facing South Africa continue with HIV, crime, unemployment and education at the top of the agender.

The rise of COPE (Congress of the People) could gain 10% of the vote despite an unsuccessful election campaign . The break away party from the ANC formed in 2008 and was backed by former president Thabo Mbeki.

South Africa's President will be chosen from the party with the majority vote by the National Assembly after the election.

Check up to date progress here

Learn more

Lions off to Africa

2009-04-21T09:51:00.003+01:00

Today the British and Irish Lions squad will be selected for their up coming tour to South-Africa.
The squad will leave for the 10-match tour, which includes Tests in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg, on 24 May.

Be inspired...

Come & Say Hi at Gap Year Fairs This Week!

2009-04-20T11:02:00.004+01:00

Come along and say hi to us at 3 different gap year fairs this week! If you have any questions about our projects or expeditions, are thinking about taking some time out and have no idea what to do or if you want some advice on travel and gap years in general then pop into any of the following Gap Fairs and say hello!

This afternoon Andy and Heather will be at Lady Manners School in Bakewell, Derbyshire from 4 - 6:30pm. If you need directions to the school then just click here!

On Wednesday 22nd April you can find Si and Ted at the Perse School for Girls in Cambridge from 6:30 - 8:30pm. Once again directions are here.

And on Thursday 23rd April Si and Heather will be spreading the Quest love at Haileybury School in Hertfordshire from 7:30 - 9pm. For those of you who are directionally challenged - click here!

We're looking forward to seeing you!

Something to aspire to if you find yourself with a little bit too much time on your gap year!

2009-04-17T09:38:00.002+01:00

I would like to emphasise that this was not done in our office we are all working very hard!

Rat Race comes to Brighton

2009-04-16T10:39:00.002+01:00

On the 13th and 14th June the Rat Race will hit the streets of Brighton. The idea is to bring adventure sports to the streets. It's a multi sport test of navigation and endurance and is suitable for beginners to elite adventure racers. It is a brilliant chance to see the City from a truely unique perspective. If your looking for overseas adventure and adrenaline that check out our Andean and African Expeditions.

Birmingham 30/31 May

Brighton 13/14 June

Bristol 27/28 June

Edinburgh 18/19 July

Sheffield 1/2 August

Belfast 8/9 Aug

Gateshead/ Newcastle 29/30 Aug

Galway 5/6 Sept

London 26/27 Sept

ENTER A TEAM

Kitesurf Africa

2009-04-14T14:41:00.010+01:00

Kitsurfing is now one of the fastest growing sports worldwide. with more people getting into the sport and pushing it's boundaries, people are also hunting out the perfect spot to kite in.
Africa is fast becoming an area for untapping resources and using the stunning and varied coastline to great a perfect sporting arena for kitesurfing.
Cape Town (above) is notorious for it's strong winds and great kiting conditions, but there are more places out there to count.

Kitesurfing is now growing in North Africa (Morrocco, Tunisia, Eygpt), not to mention Eastern Africa, with the clear crisp waters of Lamu Island in Kenya, Mombasa (Diani), and Zanzibar, possibly one of the most stunning of waters to kite in, not to mention the expansive bays in Mozambique.

Kiting Africa will soon become one of the many reasons to visit the vast continent, get out there before it gets too crowded!!!

GO KITING IN AFRICA

Construction in Peru

2009-04-09T13:37:00.001+01:00

The last house built by this summer's Quest team. The group is moving on but the work still goes on.

To join this summer's team click here

African Footballers make their stamp on Europe

2009-04-09T12:59:00.002+01:00

Much of Africa has a love a fair with the beautiful game. From North to east, central to the south, people love to play and watch football. Minibuses strewn with the Red Devils or the Gunners can be seen from Kenya to Swaziland and everywhere in between. Everyone knows David Beckham and South African satelite airs more premiership games than Sky and Santanta put together!

Over the last two nights the best of African football has come to Europe and cemented the continent as a hotbed of talent to rival that of South America and Europe. Drogba, Adebayor and Eto'o scored for their respective clubs and Essien dominated to help Chelsea to a 3-1 victory over their closest rivals Liverpool in the Premiership.

Excitement is already building for the world cup in 2010! Hopes will be high for a first world cup win from an African Nation.

Only in Kenya

2009-04-03T09:26:00.001+01:00

To see tigers with Quest in Kenya click here!

Photo of the year 2009

2009-04-02T16:51:00.004+01:00

This has to be in the running for photo of the year 2009. Our South America Director excelled himself last week by dressing up as Colonel Sanders for Quest Overseas Chicken Week 2009.

DONATE TO CHICKEN WEEK!

Chicken week 2009! Summary and a trip to KFC?

2009-04-01T10:03:00.003+01:00

After 7 days Quest Overseas Chicken Week 2009 has officially finished. As a chicken I visited Shropshire and London, played tennis, swam in the sea, went shopping, cycled to work, visited a gap fair and fought the egg in an epic Balboa esc fight to the death. Remember 'it’s not how hard you hit its how hard you get hit and keep on moving forward!'

We are just shy of £1000 at the moment but have some more fundraising plans still to come. If you have watched the videos on-line then please donate now whatever you can. The rule is - you laugh, you donate!

DONATE NOW AND MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE TO THE CHILDREN OF TANZANIA

Chicken week 2009! Egg vs Chicken!!!!!!!!

2009-03-27T18:12:00.001Z

DONATE NOW!

Villa Maria Team Construction Gurus!

2009-03-27T14:41:00.002Z

Well done guys, the first house of five built in just TWO WEEKS! Thanks as well to the family and friends of Katie Ashbridge, whose fundraising efforts provided the materials for these homes.

Chicken Week 2009, day 5 a game of tennis?

2009-03-27T13:44:00.003Z

If you watched this and it made you laugh then what are you waiting for! Donate now and really make a difference to a school in Tanzania.

Quest's 2009 Marathon Girls

2009-03-26T15:26:00.007Z

Whether you go on a Quest project or expedition, you're likely to be a lot fitter by the end of the trip than at the start. These lovely ex-Quest ladies are this year taking their fitness levels even further and are all running the gruelling London Marathon this April.

It's not just about the physical and psychological achievement though, each of them are running for charities very close to their hearts. Heather Rayment (Yachana 2001, top left) is running for InterAct Reading Service, a charity for which she also volunteers. Amy Hammond (Ambue Ari 2003, bottom left) is running for Action for Children and Jenny Bloomfield (Yachana 2001, right) is flying all the way back from Hong Kong for the weekend, so she can run for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Running 26 miles at any pace is a fantastic achievement, and raising some serious cash for extremely worthwhile causes makes it all the more impressive. Well done girls and the first pint will be on us!

To sponsor Heather, click here

To sponsor Amy, click here

To sponsor Jenny, click here

Anyone else from Quest running the marathon? Let us know and we'll plug your fundraising pages!

Pink tights and smelly chicken heads.

2009-03-25T15:58:00.004Z

Day 3 of chicken week and we're off to Shropshire. The mask is ponging a little and the strange looks keep on coming. Tonight we hit the road on our way to beautiful Shropshire. We're camping in the wilds of Shrewsbury at the Wingfield Arms pub. Tomorrow we will be at Shrewsbury school gap fair to offer advice on Quest Overseas and Gap Years.

Watch this space for more videos, bring on chicken karaoke!!

A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED CHICKEN WEEK SO FAR!
If you haven't supported chicken week yet then donate now!

Chicken Week 2009, day 2 a trip to the shops

2009-03-24T17:04:00.003Z

Please donate what you can to help a school in Tanzania right here!

Chicken Week, swim in sea completed!

2009-03-23T15:45:00.002Z

Simon Tierney requested I swam in the sea, so I did. Donate £45 and you can make me do what ever you like!

Please donate what you can right here!

Chicken Week Begins!

2009-03-23T11:35:00.005Z

So chicken week begins, and this is how our office is looking today! If you're in Brighton today, keen an eye out for our chicken swimming in the sea - serious stuff this fundraising!

Keep checking back to see what he's getting up to, it's going on all week.

To see why he's doing this, check out our justgiving site here, and please donate what you can!

Pink elephant really does exist!

2009-03-23T10:00:00.000Z

A pink elephant calf has been caught on camera in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. They are extremely rare in the African elephant population and this one was spotted by eagle eye wildlife photographer Mike Holding.

The pink colouration is caused by the elephant missing a gene making it albino. Unfortunately this means it is more likely to suffer from the strong African sun without the normal protection provided by the skin pigment that it is missing. The hope is that the young elephant will learn to seek shade and make the most of using natures natural mud pack sun tan lotion!

More on the BBC site

Visit the Okavango this summer with Quest!

This is crazy, The Liger! and Tigron!

2009-03-20T14:39:00.003Z

Rarely am i lost for words

Tigron

Liger-The liger is a hybrid cross between a male lion and a female tiger. It is denoted scientifically as Panthera tigris × Panthera leo.A liger resembles a lion with diffused stripes. They are the largest cats in the world, although the Siberian Tiger is the largest pure sub-species. Like tigers, but unlike lions, ligers enjoy swimming. A similar hybrid, the offspring of a male tiger and a female lion is called a tigon.Rare reports have been made of tigresses mating with lions in the wild.Under exceptional circumstances it has been known for a tiger to be forced into ranges inhabited by the Asiatic Lion, Panthera leo persica; however, this combination of species in the wild is considered highly unlikely.
Size and growth:
Imprinted genes may be a factor contributing to liger size.These are genes that may or may not be expressed depending on the parent they are inherited from, and that occasionally play a role in issues of hybrid growth. For example, in some mice species crosses, genes that are expressed only when maternally-inherited cause the young to grow larger than is typical for either parent species. This growth is not seen in the paternal species, as such genes are normally "counteracted" by genes inherited from the female of the appropriate species.The tiger produces a hormone that sets the fetal liger on a pattern of growth that does not end throughout its life. The hormonal hypothesis is that the cause of the male liger's growth is its sterility — essentially, the male liger remains in the pre-pubertal growth phase. This is not upheld by behavioural evidence - despite being sterile, many male ligers become sexually mature and mate with females. Male ligers also have the same levels of testosterone ng/dl on average as an adult male lion. In addition, female ligers also attain great size, weighing approximately 700 lb (320 kg) and reaching 10 feet (3.05 m) long on average, and are often fertile.

Longevity-18-26 years
Fertility:
While male ligers are sterile, female ligers are fertile, and they can reproduce. Because only female ligers and tigons are fertile, a liger cannot reproduce with a tigon.If a liger were to reproduce with a tiger, it would be called a ti-liger, and if it were to reproduce with a lion, it would be called a li-liger. The fertility of hybrid big cat females is well-documented across a number of different hybrids. This is in accordance with Haldane's rule: in hybrids of animals whose gender is determined by sex chromosomes, if one gender is absent, rare or sterile, it is the heterogametic sex (the one with two different sex chromosomes e.g. X and Y).According to Wild Cats of the World (1975) by C. A. W. Guggisberg, ligers and tigons were long thought to be sterile: In 1943, however, a fifteen-year-old hybrid between a lion and an 'Island' tiger was successfully mated with a lion at the Munich Hellabrunn Zoo. The female cub, although of delicate health, was raised to adulthood.

The history of ligers dates to at least the early 19th century in Asia. A painting of two liger cubs was made by Michael Isasi (1772−1844). In 1825, G.B. Whittaker made an engraving of liger cubs born in 1824. The parents and their three liger offspring are also depicted with their trainer in a 19th Century painting in the naïve style.
Two liger cubs after being born in 1837, were exhibited to William IV and to his successor Victoria. On 14 December 1900 and on 31 May 1901, Carl Hagenbeck wrote to zoologist James Cossar Ewart with details and photographs of ligers born at the Hagenbeck's Tierpark in Hamburg in 1897.
In Animal planet and the World of Tigers and lions and tigers (1902–1903), A.H. Bryden described Hagenbeck's "lion-tiger" hybrids:

All of the above has either come from wikipedia or some liger website.... If it is not true someone please tell me. Crazy!

World Water Day 2009

2009-03-20T10:44:00.003Z

With World Water Day 2009 coming up on Sunday 22nd March, Excellent Development, our project partner in Kenya, have been conducting some interesting research into the contrast between the massive choice of bottled water we have here in the UK compared to the limited access to a clean water supply faced by rural villages in the Machakos district of Kenya.

According to Simon Madrell, co-founder of Excellent Development, consumers in the UK face a mind-boggling choice between 57 different brands of water, with the average price per litre at £3.40 (the highest being a ridiculous £59 per litre and a favourite of celebrities such as Paris Hilton). It is a choice that we rarely give a second thought to, however within the communities Excellent Development works with in Kenya the availability (or lack of it) of water is forefront in most minds. Community built sand dams not only provide a sustainable source of clean water but also improves the surrounding environment, raising the local water table leading to increased tree and crop survival rates. A sand dam will provide water for a community at a cost of just over half a penny per litre and is refilled for free every time it rains!

Read the Excellent Development article here.

Find out more about constructing sand dams on our Kenya WaterRelief Project!

Countdown to Chicken Week! 3days to go!!

2009-03-19T10:45:00.000Z

Preparations are in full swing for what is tipped to be the biggest event of the year - Quest Overseas Chicken Week 2009!

Suggestions have been flooding in, including swimming in the sea, dancing the birdy song and catching the Eurostar to Paris (one step too far I think?!). If you would like me to do something crazy dressed as a chicken now is your chance. It will require a donation of £45 and within reason I will do anything! Photographic or video evidence will be provided.

DONATE TO CHICKEN WEEK NOW!

Please help support chicken week by spreading the word and together we can buy chickens and really make a long term positive sustainable difference to 1 school in Tanzania.

Brazil team leaves their project

2009-03-18T10:04:00.004Z

After a fantastic month of work in Mangueira complex, improving the lives of the children in Casa Lar and entertaining the hundreds of kids in the Tia Neuma school (not to mention their fantastic exploits in the Rio Carnival parade), the team has now moved onto their expedition. I believe they are currently enjoying the Atlantic surf on the beach resort of Itacare - lucky things!

This doesn't mean that the project has been forgotten though. Some funds from their project donation still remain and their leader will be returning soon to make sure those funds are well spent. There is still a lot to do there, particularly in Casa Lar, which is why the team has decided to fundraise further.

They have set up the following justgiving site here - do help out if you can!

To find out how to join next year's Brazil project, click here

Climb Kilimanjaro

2009-03-17T16:00:00.004Z

Not wanting to be out done by the comic relief lot, (though we are impressed) we know that we can do it better. So in light of chicken week, on the condition we raise the money to house and build the chicken farm, we will climb Kili and parade around the top sporting our out-fits and any attire that our volunteers wish to wear.

www.questoverseas.com/africa/tanzania_community_project.php

So if you wish to see a chicken and an egg argue over who came to the top first please give generously.

www.justgiving.com/chickenweek

Happy St Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T14:19:00.005Z

Seeing green, leprechauns, shamrocks and pints of guinness everywhere you go today? Never fear... you aren't going mad - today marks St Patrick's Day, the annual celebration of the patron saint of Ireland. Cue public holidays and days off work in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and (most bizarrely)the tiny Carribbean island of Montserrat. Most well known for its huge volcanic eruption in 1995 which led to the evacuation of 2/3 of the population, Montserrat is apparently known as the "Emerald Isle of the Carribbean" due to its foundation by Irish refugees from neighbouring islands.

The "Ireland of the Carribbean"????!

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY FROM ALL OF US AT QUEST OVERSEAS!!

Gap Fair - Ashby School

2009-03-16T10:25:00.002Z

As I write Andy and Jon are at Ashby School in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire waiting to answer any questions you might have about our projects or gap years in general. So go along and say hello!

The fair lasts from 10:45am til 2pm and directions to the school are here!

Last night I dreamed of chickens...

2009-03-13T12:54:00.009Z

Chicken Week - begins 23rd March.

Last night I dreamed of chickens,

there were chickens everywhere,

they were standing on my stomach,

they were nesting in my hair,

they were pecking at my pillow,

they were hopping on my head,

they were ruffling up their feathers

as they raced about my bed.

They were on the chairs and tables,

they were on the chandeliers,

they were roosting in the corners,

they were clucking in my ears,

there were chickens, chickens,

chickens for as far as I could see...

when I woke today,

I noticed there were eggs on top of me.

by Jack Prelutsky
BUY A CHICKEN AND SUPPORT EDUCATION IN TANZANIA

Comic Relief - Red Nose Day...All Day...Today!

2009-03-13T12:45:00.012Z

For the chance to see Robbie Williams dressed as a little girl and French and Saunders last ever sketch tune into BBC1 from 7pm tonight and watch the Comic Relief TV Extravaganza. For a taste of the former delight have a look at the clip on the BBC News Page!

Comic Relief this year is aiming to raise a record £40million to help disadvantaged people across the UK and Africa. Some of the projects and initiatives include providing resources to combat Malaria throughout Africa (i.e. mosquito nets), improving healthcare services across Sub-Saharan Africa with the aim to reduce the maternal mortality rate (which can be as high as 1 death per 8 births compared to a rate of 1 in 8,200 in the UK) and within the UK increasing awareness and services for those with mental health problems.

These are only a couple of the causes that money raised by Comic Relief will be helping. Take a look at the Red Nose Day 2009 Website for more information about where all the donations will be heading.

If you would like to do your bit to provide a brighter future for African communities, take a look at our projects in Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya and Swaziland here!

Thanks St Swithun's for the lasagne!

2009-03-13T10:07:00.006Z

Another successful gap fair last night, thanks to the staff and students of St Swithun's Winchester for hosting the event, we hope you found it useful - and thank you for the tasty dinner!

These events often serve as great opportunities for us to learn about what everyone else is getting up to in the world as well. We were very fortunate to be placed next to the Kings World Trust for Children, a charity which provides medical, educational and outreach support for young people in India. They have achieved a great deal so far but there is lots more for them to do.

Quest doesn't work in India but for anyone who is interested in volunteering in and learning more about that part of the world, you should check out the Kings World Trust website, where there is information on how to volunteer at or donate to their projects.

Check out their website here

Gap Fairs Tonight!

2009-03-12T11:50:00.006Z

Once again Quest Overseas will be at a couple of Gap Fairs this evening, ready and waiting to answer any questions you might have about our projects, Africa and South America or just for a general chat about taking a Gap Year.

Andy and Jon will be at St Swithun's School in Winchester from 6:30-8pm and Heather and I will be holding the fort at King's College School in Wimbledon also from 6:30-8pm.

We'd love to see you there so if you would like any advice or information please come and say hello!

Get directions to St Swithun's here!

And click here for directions to King's College School!

Natures Great Events-Botswana's Okavango Delta

2009-03-11T12:52:00.004Z

Tonight on BBC1 it will be the next part of 'Natures Great Events'. The episode will follow the annual flooding of Africa's biggest in land Delta in Botswana as the rains filter down from Angola. Highlight of the program are elephants carefully using their tusks to siphon off clean drinking water from stagnant pools.

Check out footage on-line here!

If you would like to experience the Delta in all its glory then why not check out our 6 week Summer Expedition to Southern Africa. As well as spending 3 days and 2 nights in the heart of the Okavango Delta the expedition also includes trekking, scuba diving, bridge swinging, 4 x 4 safari and bungee jumping and much much more in 5 different countries!

Southern Africa Expedition next departure 10th July 2009

Villa Maria Team at work

2009-03-11T09:24:00.001Z

A few images of the Quest Overseas group working in the Villa Maria shanty town in Peru - great work so far guys!

Congrats to Red Nose Day Kilimanjaro Climbers

2009-03-09T17:32:00.004Z

Congratulations are in order for the celebrities who climbed Kilimanjaro in order to raise money for comic relief. Amazingly all of the celebrities (and numerous film crew/producer types) who attempted the mountain made it to the summit and so far they have raised £1,526,127 for Comic Relief's campaign to help reduce the numbers of people dying from Malaria every year. Well Done!

Click here to watch videos from the climb

You dont have to be a national celebrity to help rural communities in Tanzania. Volunteer on our Tanzania Schools and community project and make a difference yourself, constructing and renovating schools and classrooms to improve education facilities.

Chicken week 2009! Weird Eggs?!

2009-03-09T13:45:00.003Z

Already support has started coming in for chicken week. If you would like to donate then simply go to www.justgiving.com/chickenweek. All the money raised will go to Quest4Change to support all our grass roots projects in South America and Africa.

This week the first ever bowling pin shaped egg has been laid in Northamptonshire. Natalie Wiltshire the owner said 'I've done a bit of research and there's nothing to suggest you should ever get eggs in this shape'.

Thanks for having us Sherborne

2009-03-06T11:20:00.006Z

Thanks to Sherborne school for putting on a successful gap fair. Students braved the snowy conditions on the Dorset roads and came to plan their gap year.

Rather than telling you what WE do, we decided to ask YOU what you wanted to do with your gap year. Requests such as "new life experiences", "make new friends" "not have to wear make up" and "eat five new types of meat" we will do our best to fulfill. However "earn £5 million", a request by one hopeful student, might be a bit trickier! We'll be at Wellington and Benenden this weekend as well, so do stop by to keep those suggestions coming.

Incredible Generosity from Villa Maria Group

2009-03-05T09:55:00.003Z

In just ONE WEEK, the family and friends of this year's Villa Maria team have raised £3,500 for Ana Mariela, a young Peruvian girl with a fast spreading tumor on her face. The cost of the several operations to treat it amounts to £4,000 so they are confident to reach the target.

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far, and click here if you would like to help them reach their target.

More information about our Villa Maria summer project here

Quest Team come 6th in Rio Carnival Contest!

2009-03-04T14:04:00.004Z

The Mangueira samba school, one of the most famous in Rio, has sweated and toiled throughout the year to compete in the carnival parade. Our valiant Rio Quest team has been working in the Mangueira favela this last month, and the culmination to their work was to compete with the Mangueira team in the Rio Sambodrome - thousands of people all dancing in time along the 1 1/2km strip.

Have a look at this link, apparently if you look carefully you can see them moving their stuff on minute 4.48 - congratulations guys!

Click here to join next year's Rio team

Orange fights in Italy

2009-03-04T13:24:00.005Z

The little town of Ivrea in Northern Italy descended into Carnival madness with orange fights causing bruises and black eyes every year. This year Heather from the Quest4Change charity was there to get involved in a bit of a battle.

Ivrea is a small town which celebrates the chopping off of the head of an Evil Duke every year with a month of celebrations culminating in four days of orange fights, fireworks and festiveness a go go. People come away from the fighting with broken noses, black eyes and seriously smelling of oranges. It's only for the hardcore, although the less hardcore can hide behind massive netting and watch the battles from safety whilst sporting a natty red hat. With barely another foreign tourist in sight, apart from some crazy Scott's and Irish this is a truly unique festival not to be missed for those looking for something a little different.

Sherborne and Godolphin & Latymer Gap Fairs

2009-03-03T16:53:00.003Z

Its going to be a busy day for us here in the Quest Overseas office tomorrow (Thursday 5th March) as we are attending not one but two Gap Year fairs. The first is from 2-5pm at Sherborne Girls' School in Sherborne, Dorset and the second from 5:30-7:45pm at Godolphin & Latymer School in Hammersmith, London. It will be fantastic to see you at these events to have a chat about the projects or just for some general travel and gap year advice. So please come say hi!

Click for directions to Sherborne Girls' School!

Click for directions to Godolphin & Latymer School!

Be inspired by Sir David Attenborough

2009-03-03T15:39:00.005Z

The Brighton Festival launched it's 2009 program last Friday and shows are already selling out. Hydrocrackers exciting production of The Erpingham Camp by Joe Orton on the pier sold out in a day! However there are still tickets available for Sir David Attenborough in conversation which will undoubtedly be fascinating and inspiring - get them quick. Fancy being the next leading natural history filmmaker? Why not check out our summer project in Bolivia to gain your own hands on experience in animal welfare.

See Sir David Attenborough in Brighton

Surf's Up

2009-02-27T16:09:00.006Z

Check out these absolutely incredible photos taken of the inside of waves by photographer Clark Little. He has spent his life swimming in huge seas capturing views normally only seen by the most intrepid surfers...and the results are fantastic!

Click here to see Clark Little's gallery on the Guardian website.

If surfing sounds like something you'd like to try (maybe in slightly calmer seas!)-check out our projects in Brazil and learn to surf in idyllic Itacare as part of our Brazilian Expedition.

I want to learn to surf in Brazil!

Save the Rhino with Benedict Allen

2009-02-27T10:47:00.004Z

The 7th Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture

Benedict Allen
UNBREAKABLE
Wednesday 11th March 2009, 7.30pm
The Royal Geographical Society, London

Following his recent popular TV series Unbreakable, in which eight athletes were pushed to their mental and physical limits, explorer Benedict Allen takes a look at what helps keep any of us going in the face of disaster. It will be an exciting and often humorous talk, which draws on his own and others’ vast experience of living at the extremes and survival in jungles, deserts and the Arctic

Lecture tickets cost £15 and are now on sale.

BUY TICKETS ON-LINE!

Gap Year Fair Dauntsey School

2009-02-26T11:11:00.004Z

The Quest Overseas Team will be at Dauntsey School today from 12pm for advice on all our trips and gap years in general.

We're currently visiting lots of schools and colleges to take part in fairs and give talks. If you would like us to come to you then please get in touch! 01273 777206

Check out Dauntsey's very own tall ship the Jolie Brise!

Got an old mobile phone that you don't need?

2009-02-25T14:49:00.002Z

Then why not send it in to Fauna and Flora International. For every phone they recieve £5 will go towards wildlife conservation. So dig out those bricks that are lying around unused. If they work they will be passed onto someone in a developing country thus helping to reduce the need for harmful mineral mining from fragile landscapes such as central Africa and the vast salt pans of Bolivia.

To get involved just e-mail rob.harris@fauna-flora.org!

Rare cheetah captured on camera

2009-02-25T09:28:00.005Z

There are thought to be just 250 Saharan cheetah individuals left in the wild and very little is known about this elusive animal. Its current known range includes; Algeria, Togo, Niger, Mali, Benin, and Burkina Faso. The Zoological Society of London is currently carrying out work to identify individuals. Cameras are set to automatically take pictures when the cheetahs walk passed them. Software is then able to identify the cheetah by recognising the individual’s pattern of spots.
Let’s hope that this important work reveals more about this critically endangered species and in the long run will help to protect it.

Footage of the more well known African cheetah

Check out more

Rio Carnival in Full Swing!

2009-02-24T14:35:00.008Z

Across the pond in Rio de Janeiro one of the biggest and most spectacular parties on earth is in full swing. The Rio Carnival this year has attracted thousands of people and despite a lack of corporate funding the event has been no less spectacular.

Check out the BBC pictures here!

Quest Overseas' Rio team are at their project site in the favela of Mangueira as I write this. Over the past couple of weeks they have been working alongside kids in the Tia Neuma Infant School and young people living at 'Casa Lar' a home for handicapped children, supporting staff, organising games, outings and educational activities, and helping with their preparations for Carnival. The Quest team will be doing themselves proud as part of the parade alongside these children and the legendary Mangueira Samba School. This is one of the oldest and most popular Samba schools in Rio due to its strong community links and always performs well during the main event, the fabulous Samba Parade.

Check out the latest updates from the Rio Team here!

I want to take help disadvantaged youngsters in Rio and take part in Carnival!

The funniest TV moment this year!

2009-02-23T11:50:00.004Z

RED NOSE DAY 13TH MARCH

Congratulations Sarah

2009-02-23T11:50:00.003Z

Sarah Brimble is now the proud God mother of a really unattractive spider monkey. Only joking Sarah he is adorable!

The Inti Wara Yassi refuges in Bolivia have been striving to combine wild animal welfare and work with vulnerable children over the past 10 years. Animals confiscated and rescued from circuses and the pet trade are constantly arriving, so there is always need for more constructions to house them, as well as care and attention for those being prepared for release into the wild. Walk a puma, teach an eagle to fly again, introduce a monkey back into the wild and become part the most hands on wildlife project you are ever likely to encounter.

to find out more http://www.questoverseas.com/south_america/ambue_ari_bolivia.php