How I Raised £3100 to go on an International Scout Expedition to Madagascar

By Josh O’Inn, a Kingswood District Explorer Scout

In 2018 I was selected to join the International Scout Expedition to Madagascar travelling in the summer of 2019. Our job was to build international friendships and contribute with developing their National Centre for Scouting in Madagascar: the vision is for a Gilwell of Madagascar.

I needed to raise £3100 to go on the expedition, plus extra for kit and vaccinations. At first, I thought this would be hard to do. My leaders on the expedition helped us by brainstorming ideas on how we could raise money i.e. selling unwanted items, ask our local Scout groups to help fundraise, and doing odd jobs for friends and family.

The first thing I did was to set up a GoFundMe page, which allowed friends and family from all over the world to donate.

The local Beaver Scout troop that I volunteer at allowed me to do a presentation about my trip. Then at their Christmas Fayre I teamed up with another Scout (who was attending the World Scout Jamboree in America), to have a stall selling items including personalised badges for our trips. We also had a stall in my old primary school at their Christmas Fayre.

I was able to help our local Round Table Santa sleigh, walking the streets collecting money, which was shared between all volunteers.

A friend who is a Cub leader locally invited me to do my presentation for his troop and then they did a sponsored walk for me.

At home we sold lots of items on Ebay, we attended car boot sales, I cleaned neighbour’s cars and jet washed friend’s patios.

I exceeded my target, ensuring no costs were passed to my parents.

Attending this expedition was a life changing experience that I will never forget.