A 17-year-old Rickmansworth student has returned from a life-changing expedition to Africa, marking the 150th anniversary of the Army Cadets.

In June the Watford Observer reported how Corporal Katherine Mullin, who studies at the Royal Masonic School, was one of 60 teenagers chosen from a a gruelling selection course for a trip to the impoverished nation of Lesotho.

After an acclimatisation course in South Africa, where cadets practiced trekking, river crossings and abseiling, they set off on a four-day trek through the 3,500 metre-high Drakensberg Mountains.

Then, in Lesotho, Ms Mullin worked for Sentebale, a charity which looks after disadvantaged babies who have been orphaned or whose family cannot afford to take care of them.

She said: “I actually enjoyed not having my mobile phone with me but I did miss my family and not knowing what was going on in the outside world.

“The trip was amazing and I have made some friends for life. I had no expectations before I went and wanted to take it as it came.

“I enjoyed living like the local people, sleeping in the traditional straw and mud huts. Although they don’t have much the people are so chilled.”

Almost one third of people in Lesotho are infected with HIV/AIDS, the third highest infection level in the world, there are an estimated 400,000 orphans and vulnerable children, and life expectancy is 34 years.

The group took part in a Sentebale community project at the “Touching Tiny Lives” centre in Mokhotlong, where Ms Mullin helped to paint a mural.

Sentebale was founded by Prince Harry, who is also patron of the expedition and met the group for a chat about the project during a hiking adventure in Wales.

At the time Ms Mullin said: “He was very nice and down to earth and seemed very interested in what we had to say.

“He was quite passionate about the work we will be doing in Lesotho and told us that it would be an adventure and that we can expect a bit of hard labour.”

Other highlights of the trip included a visit to a game reserve and historic military sites including Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana, plus a trip to the highest pub in Africa for dinner.

Ms Mullin added: “The real highlight for me was reaching the summit of Thabana Ntlenyana. We were the only group to make it to the top of this mountain, it being the highest mountain in Southern Africa.

"Sleeping 300 metres below the summit was an experience, especially being at -15 degrees C in tents."

Ms Mullin had to raise the £1,000 for the trip and take part in training exercises while studying for her A levels. Her long-term goal is to become a military vet.

The event is one of more than 150 taking place to mark the 150th anniversary of the cadet movement, which is made up of 131,000 young people and 25,000 adult volunteers.

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