The Challenge
Join Ollie Phillips, former Rugby 7’s Captain and World Player of the Year, in Malawi for an incredible 7 day rugby focused challenge. Ollie’s team will work with the inspirational Bhubesi Pride Foundation, spending four days coaching rugby and getting involved in daily life within local primary and secondary schools that are part of the foundation’s development programme. Your last few days will be spent on the shores of Lake Malawi at a community secondary school where rugby will be brand new- although prepare to be wowed by how incredible they are at sports and the natural talent from these young Malawians! Download full trip info to see everything included in your Sport with a Purpose challenge.
Rugby Training
Your first four days in Malawi will be spent with Bhubesi Pride Foundation (BPF). From their base in the Central Region of Malawi, you will spend the days assisting them in coaching sessions, visiting local primary and secondary schools and meeting the communities and local coaches they are supporting. Each evening you will be treated to a local meal and a chance to get to know the staff, volunteers and young people that BPF is working with. Find out more about Bhubesi Pride Foundation.
Rainbow Hope Secondary School
Your final day in Malawi will be spent on the shores of Lake Malawi with a community secondary school and youth group working to find sustainable solutions to enable their community to develop. Take a village walk to the permaculture garden, visit the early literacy programme, spend time with the final-year students and of course have a chance to teach them some rugby!
The students will amaze you with their natural sporting talent and prepare to leave feeling exhausted as their stamina for sport is unrivalled!
Riverboat Safari
The beauty of a wildlife safari in Malawi is the total peace, solitude and uninterrupted sightings you get of some of Africa’s most incredible wildlife. Your day trip to Liwonde National Park includes a riverboat safari up The Shire River where you will have a chance to see large herds of elephants coming to the banks to drink, antelopes roaming on the grasslands and hippos and crocodiles basking in the rivers shallows. Lunch will be served at Mvuu Camp, overlooking the river. Binoculars are a must and keen bird watchers will be enchanted!
The Purpose
Orbis Expeditions is teaming up with ‘rugby-for-good’ organisation, Bhubesi Pride Foundation (BPF) in a new relationship which is set to help take their work in Lilongwe, Malawi, to new heights.
BPF’s work has steadily evolved as children and staff from six primary schools and three secondary schools are now involved in seasonal activities led by a locally employed development officer. In 2018, BPF purchased a 7-acre plot of land from within a rural village area, upon which a sports and education facility is now being constructed, and you’ll be there to start shaping progress.
The aim is to raise £13,000 to build a full size Sports Field at the Centre’s HQ. This will be the focal point for all on-site training at the Academy.
Your Host: Ollie Phillips
Ollie is a former professional rugby player.
He combined successful careers in both the 15-a-side game and also the Olympic version of the game, Rugby Sevens. Ollie captained England Sevens and was named 'World Player of the Year' in 2009 while also pursuing a professional career in 15s with four clubs in England and France, where he was voted 'Overseas Player of the Year' in 2011. Since retiring from rugby, Ollie has volunteered as a charity ambassador, raising in excess of £2.5 million to date.
Ollie currently works as a Director at PwC in London and in 2018 set up 'Optimist Performance', through which he works with companies and individuals by speaking and consulting in the core areas of Teamwork, Leadership, Resilience and Change.
Ollie is also currently the holder of 5 Guinness World Records and is proof that anything is achievable with a little motivation, courage and leadership.
Meet our Orbis Challenge Hosts
The tingly bits…
Stay a little longer in Malawi and come and experience some of this amazing region of Africa. Orbis can arrange onward travel including wildlife safaris, community visits, Lake Malawi retreats, time spent using your skills within village settings or a mix of all the above. Or you might like to hop across the border to explore Victoria Falls in Zambia or the Mozambique Indian Ocean Coast. Get in touch and we can help you plan your onward travel.
Logistics
We live and breathe Malawi and social expeditions to this beautiful part of the world is our bread and butter. It is the only country we sell so all our efforts and energies are concentrated around our unique expeditions and developing educational & purposeful travel to this part of the world.
Your health and safety are our paramount concerns and we will be with you every step of the way, from the very start of the booking process through to lighting that camp fire on the final night. Our UK Company, Orbis Expeditions, will act as your ABTA & ATOL protected booking agent while our Malawi company, The Responsible Safari Company, will be your in-country host & provide all your local support.
Joining you on this adventure will be an international medic, a photographer and a team of local guides and operations staff.
