Salamander issue 3

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CADETS SCHEMES
Three of the LondonBrigade’s
Fire Cadets have recently
returned from their once-in-
a-life-time opportunity trip to
Nepal, which they completed
with cadets from Cheshire
Fire and Rescue Service.
Fire Cadets Megan Munns
(17), Tiernan Routledge (18)
and Kia Clemens (18) were
accompanied by Volunteer
Cadet Instructor and Special
Operations Group Watch
Manager, Stavros Marangos.
Their 16 day expedition through
Nepal included trekking 135
km through rough terrain in
the Himalayas, a flight over Mt.
Everest, and exploring the city
of Kathmandu.
The key purpose of the trip
was to help finish the build
of a six classroom school in
Kangel, that was being built by
the international charity called
Classroom in the Clouds.
All London Fire Cadet units
actively fundraised over the
past 12 months to pay for the
build of one of the classrooms.
“The building of the school has
given the children of Kangel
and neighbouring villages the
opportunity of an education,
a chance to escape poverty,
to help their families and to
empower the local community”,
said Stavros. “We didn’t “just”
provide a school. Classrooms
In The Clouds also trains
and funds the teachers and,
crucially, ensures that standards
are maintained or improved
upon, with regular follow up
visits, inspections and training.”
Nepal has been a life changing
experience that t h e
cadets will never forget. For
Megan, it was her first journey
outside of UK. “The thought of
it being so far away made me
feel quite anxious. However,
a feeling of excitement and
calmness filled me as we
landed, our eyes lit up and we
were stunned by how beautiful
Nepal really was
- pictures do not do justice!
When we made it into Kangel,
where the real hard work
and dedication took place,
the smile on the children and
villagers faces upon our arrival
will be something I will always
remember. It was touching to
see them so overwhelmed.” Kia
said “I have learnt a lot about
the way other people live and
their culture. As a society we
take things for granted so it
was eye opening to see how
other people live. You never
truly understand the meaning
of beauty and life until you take
the time out to explore it.”
LFB Youth Engagement
Manager, Sara Perez, says,
“The incredible experience
that our Fire Cadets were able
to have was down to close
partnership that we have with
Cheshire Fire Cadets and
Classrooms in the Clouds .
We’d really like to continue to
support this amazing charity
and offer further life changing
opportunities for more of our
Fire Cadets in the future.”
As for the team, they came
back with a new appreciation
of the lives they live here in
London, and immense pride
and determination that LFB Fire
Cadets will be able to make
a difference to many more
children’s lives.
Stavros Marangos, Kia Clemens, Megan Munns and Tiernan Routledge
Agnes Wong
London Fire Brigade
Youth Engagement Coordinator
Hackney, Newham and Lewisham Units
LFB Fire Cadets
have recently
returned from
their once-
in-a-life-time
opportunity trip
to Nepal