Two young people from Wales have been selected to take part in an international expedition to Ghana in December 2026 as part of the UK Scouts of the World Award programme. Senan Rands (Conwy District) and Georgia Ellams (Wrexham District) were chosen following a highly competitive national selection process led by the UK Scouts of the World Award team, with more than 60 applicants competing for just 20 places. The expedition will see participants work in small teams on community-led projects, immerse themselves in local culture and develop skills in leadership, teamwork and global citizenship.
We caught up with Senan to hear more about his Scouting journey, what the selection meant to him, and how he’s preparing for the adventure ahead.
Hey Senan – thanks for talking to us – tell us a bit about yourself and your Scouting journey so far
I’m 17 years old and from North Wales and I am a part of Ormes Explorer Scouts. This year in school I’m studying for my A levels in June and hoping to go to Salford University to study sports journalism. I enjoy sports massively and play hockey for my local team so that’s one of the things I’m looking to carry forward into university.
I’ve been in Scouting since the start of Beavers and have been through all levels of Scouting before finishing Explorers in August and moving into Network before the expedition. My current Explorer unit is full of my close friends which is always great. I also go to school with a couple of them so we really spend a lot of time together, which makes us a lot more of a tight-knit group.
How did it feel when you found out you’d been selected for the expedition to Ghana?
It was pretty surreal to be selected to be honest, I didn’t expect it at all. I remember waiting for the phone call for ages – it was late and I was getting more and more nervous each second!
I’m the youngest person going on the expedition (my birthday is genuinely the latest it can possibly be to apply) so that’s also pretty cool. To be completely honest, I thought I’d messed up the interview during the teamwork section, so that surprised me the most – but I think that was just the nerves!
What do you know so far about what the expedition to Ghana will involve?
As far as I currently know before our training weekend, the expedition is going to include a lot of manual work as we are all in our teams and get to select our project. In the past people have helped rebuild and renovate old schools, along with helping to improve the water supply.
We’ll also get to immerse ourselves in the culture by meeting locals in the village we’re staying in and trying local food.
What are you most looking forward to about the experience?
I think I’m most looking forward to just experiencing a new place. For me personally, I’ve never left the UK and Ireland so the weather will be a major challenge. Even though we are going in winter, I still think the temperature will be around 30 degrees, so in their winter it’s still hotter than summer here!
But also meeting everyone and spending two weeks away from all the stress that university will bring will be great. I guess I’m just looking forward to it all.
How are you raising the funds needed to take part in the expedition?
I’ve been exploring many means of fundraising recently. There’s a crowdfunding link which I’ll attach for anyone who’d be looking to support me. The support from people donating has made a huge difference in helping me being able to go.
I’m also looking to get the Scouts I lead involved by doing different fundraising activities around the local area, like bag packing at local shops. I’m planning to contact local councils in Llandudno and Colwyn Bay, and my Scout group is also looking to support me alongside my district.
Who has supported you most during the fundraising and application process?
In terms of fundraising, I’m blessed to be around a lot of amazing people who have helped me so much. My unit leaders (including my Dad) have been incredibly supportive with seeking funding help from the district and sharing my crowdfunding link.
Rene, my Scout leader and local district lead volunteer, has been a massive help throughout the whole process. He wrote my reference for the trip itself, helped me think about fundraising ideas and has even helped try to secure district funding. He really deserves his own individual thanks.
What will the money raised be used for?
All the fundraising will help to cover travel costs to Ghana, visa application, injections (which there are a lot of!), and project costs such as materials and tools. It’s a large amount of money to raise, but it will go so far in the communities we’re working with and will really be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
How can people support you if they’d like to donate?
Yes! I do have a fundraising page people can access if they’d like to support, and it would be massively appreciated if they do. The link is:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/senan-rands
And again, a massive thanks to everyone who’s already donated.
What advice would you give to other young people in Scouts thinking about international opportunities?
My advice is just go for it. The worst you can hear back is no! I was encouraged to apply to the Scouts of the World Award expedition by someone very special to me who believed in me. All you need is some belief and you can do amazing things.
So just go for it – you never know what else will come out of it.
Look out for our catch-up with Georgia to hear all about what she’s being doing in preparation for the trip.
