Flourishing youth charity Raleigh International Bermuda has upped its number of expeditions, according to executive director Kristin White.

The group send young people overseas for character-building trips that involve taking part in community and environmental initiatives.

“We have a pilot programme running overseas right now to see if we can offer two expeditions a year,” Ms White said. “The idea is to bring in summer and winter expeditions.”

Currently, three participants are in Malaysia and another four in India. Raleigh has traditionally offered summer expeditions.

“Raleigh offers a Rite of Passage programme, which is about exploring them as the hero of their own story, about leaving the known world and going into the unknown, and it’s about them knowing and telling their own story,” she said.

Added Ms White: “Not all the participants are from what we’d look at as a risk situation. But everyone on the Island is dealing with issues with someone.”

Storytelling and induction evenings have been worked into the programme, and with increased alumni participation, the youth group has evolved into “more like a community”, she said.

www.raleigh.bm.