A Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity: Maliha’s Basecamp Graduation Speech

The following is Maliha’s Basecamp story, spoken in front of one-hundred people at our end of programme graduation event:

“I just want to start by saying thank you to my teachers for giving me the opportunity to come onto the Basecamp programme. I also want to thank Anna and Jen for driving all this way to come here and do the workshops and this graduation.

If I was to summarise this Basecamp year in one sentence it would be, ‘A once in a lifetime opportunity’ because, yes, I might get to do stuff like this again like hiking and canoeing, but the thing that I won’t get to do again is make the same relationships and meet new people who also come on this programme for the same adventures.

I have been introduced to so many new things and so many people. I feel like I’ve accomplished so much in this past year. My parents know that even when I go home I’m still talking about the trip and how much fun I’ve had doing said things.

I really appreciate all the staff’s efforts for this whole year because without Anna and Jen we wouldn’t be doing these crazy things. Also a special thanks to Bex, Joe and Ali (the Youth Adventure Coaches) for making the Huddles special and making the trips funny and memorable. I also want to thank Gilly (volunteer) for giving me a blanket and pillow in the tents when I didn’t have one and always looking out for us no matter the situation.

Another moment that will stay with me throughout the whole programme is when we climbed our first mountain. I was so proud of myself and the team that when I got to the top I slid all the way down the small hill at the top on my bum. I bashed my bum but it was worth all the bumps and bruises ad I was so happy I had actually climbed a mountain, what an accomplishment! Who can say they’ve done that!

Throughout the whole trip we have had many ups and downs. Times where we felt like we wanted to give up and times where we were so proud with the end result. I feel so grateful for this opportunity because I still can’t believe we’ve summited a total of four mountains.

I’m so upset that our journey on Basecamp has come to an end and we’ve all come so far from the start because not many people my age would be able to tell you they’ve done caving, paddle-boarding, gorge scrambling, raft building, canoeing, camping and hiking and make so many memories and friends I’m pretty sure there’s a lot more.

My parents have been reminding me throughout my academic year that this is something that will stay with you for the rest of your life, I truly believe it will.

Thank you for having me. It’s been a blast”.