Through links to one of Aaron’s former Westcliff Rugby Club teammates the ALF has been able to supply tag-rugby equipment for Andrew Bakonyvari to take on a King John School Essex student
expedition to Malaysian Borneo. Aaron spent time in Borneo as a volunteer with Raleigh International prior to joining the Army, so it was very rewarding to be able to renew old bonds with
this recent support.
As well as bringing tag rugby and other team games to the children of four communities in the North East of the country, the King John students also engaged in various community projects including construction of a kindergarten playground, a primary school running track, a bridge for a disabled man and tree planting. They were also able to visit various animal sanctuaries to see work protecting displaced and/or injured native wildlife.
On returning from the trip Andrew was kind enough to provide the following feedback: ‘The whole trip was enriched due to the generosity of the Aaron Lewis Foundation. At the end of time with each of the communities, the students decided they would prefer to donate the kit to the communities instead of taking it back home, and the Aaron Lewis Foundation gave them permission to do so. It was so wonderful and the communities were incredibly grateful for this.’
Andrew and the King John leadership are already making plans for a trip to Tanzania in 2025 and the ALF have already agreed to support this wonderful student development.