THE young Bermudian "venturers" who left the island three weeks ago for the experience of a lifetime in Malaysia have been attached to nine separate projects which take in the marine parks, villages and mountains of the exotic state of Sabah.

Raleigh International Expedition support co-ordinator Sarah Leach reported to family and friends, in "expedition update one", that the 11 young Bermudians and volunteer Brendan Millet "seem to be having a fantastic time and are in the thick of expedition life".

A group of ten young Malaysians were first to arrive at the jungle camp, on July 4, and "slightly more bleary-eyed" travellers, including the Bermuda team, arrived at the airport at Kota Kinabalu shortly thereafter, "after very long flights from all over the world".

"The total group is incredibly diverse: there are 89 venturers and 31 voluntary staff from seven different countries, including the UK, Malaysia, Italy, US, New Zealand, and, for the first time, Bermuda," reported Ms Leach.

She said project staff, including 46-year-old Bermudian contractor and community volunteer Brendan Millet, "now have a solid grasp of radio communications, river crossing skills, expedition health and safety issues, including first aid, and cultural issues and youth development skills".

the guidance of Raleigh "country director" Rory Hall and deputy expedition leader Gareth Crawford, Mr. Millet and other project staff "have all been out to 'recce' their project sites, get to know their project partners, carry out risk assessments, and meet the communities who take an active part in helping with the work and prepare the way".

The young venturers have been no less active, "climbing a steep learning curve to develop new critical skills to help them on the expedition. They have learned what it's like to brave the elements, how to cook on Trangia stoves, use field radios, practice first aid, and make porridge without burning it!"

They have also learned "how to build a jungle hammock or 'basher' to ensure the most comfortable and undisturbed night's sleep possible".

In an e-mail to Raleigh International Bermuda's director Michael Spurling, Rory Hall reported on the Bermuda team's initial performance. "Firstly, Brendan has fitted in well to the staff team, and I have deployed him out as one of two project managers on our 'show boat' project ? we are being sponsored on this expedition by HSBC Bank and they are paying for a kindergarten to be built ? where his building expertise is being put to good use."

Mr. Millet, with nine venturers, including recent CedarBridge graduate Cushi Ming, will be responsible for building a new kindergarten building in the small river-side village of Kg Balat, a Muslim community in one of the poorest areas of Sabah province. "In total, I have nine projects, and I have mixed the Bermudians up so that most projects have one in each," Mr. Hall advised.

Institute graduate De Wilton Robinson and Angle Street community centre member Vernon Simons are part of a 13-person team tasked with the installation of a gravity water feed system in the remote and under-developed Kampong Saguan, a predominantly Christian community of 500 people in the centre of the province.

A likely water source is about two kilometres away, and the water system may take six weeks to install, but the Raleigh team may also help refurbish school buildings during part of their three weeks in the area.

CedarBridge graduate Erin Butterfield and Sandys Community Centre member Stuvon Outerbridge will be part of an 11-member team that hopes to complete the construction of a "hanging suspension bridge" over the Segama River in the Danum Valley, a world-renowned conservation and research area. The project team "will assist international scientists with various conservation projects and receive rainforest education in this amazing jungle setting".

CedarBridge student and St. George's community club member Juvonne Cann is part of an 11-person team building basic infrastructure, including a Ranger's camp, visitors' accommodation and basic trails, at Imbak Canyon, the last untouched and relatively unexplored area of Sabah. Fewer than 200 people have ever entered this virgin primary jungle area, and the last research team discovered a new tree species. Seven-year-old Berkeley student Ciara Ruth is part of a ten-person group working with WWF Malaysia on the MESCOT (Model of Ecologically Sustainable Community Tourism) project in partnership with the local community of Batu Puteh. They will assist in the construction of an eco-lodge, bird hides and trails in a prime environmental area on the lower Kinabatangan river.

CedarBridge's Georgio Fox and Liane Abel, and Berkeley's Terrylyn Cordeiro and Tashae Harvey will take part in adventure projects, in conjunction with Borneo Divers and Sabah Parks, in the Tungku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and the Crocker Range National Park.

Several adventure groups will be involved in a scuba-diving conservation project, collecting data for a coral reef monitoring programme, and non-divers will conduct a beach clean-up on Gaya Island. Adventure teams will also trek across the Crocker Range from Tikalod to Inabong, "upgrading the trail through this dense rainforest to help promote this remote and pristine area for eco-tourism".

The adventure phase will finish, for all venturers, with an opportunity to climb Mount Kinabalu, to watch the sunrise from the top of the highest peak in South-East Asia. The climb "passes through five different temperate zones, from a dense rainforest to a barren alpine landscape".

Minister of Community Affairs & Sport Dale Butler plans to join the team on this final phase of the expedition.

In his e-mail to Mr. Spurling, Mr. Hall wrote that "at first the Bermuda venturers were a bit shell-shocked and tended to stick together a lot, as expected. However, they have started to come out of their shells a bit more, and prior to deployment they were fully integrated into their teams.

"They all got through their swim tests just fine, although both Stuvon and Vernon had to have a bit of extra help and time to get their treading water completed.

"The opening ceremony on Sunday last week was a great success with some exciting cultural dancing at the end."

expedition was launched on July 10 by the Sabah Minister of Youth and Sports, with project partners, sponsors, venturers and staff in attendance. The evening concluded with "some lively traditional Malay dancing, including the Sumazu dance, which involves dancing in between bamboo poles which are being clapped together".

Mr. Hall told Mr. Spurling that "everyone got up on the stage at the end and got involved, with some flashy moves from your guys. Also, plenty of hooting and cheering from the gang during the Minister's speech ? all tasteful and well-behaved ? honest!"