The Challenge : Trekking the Great Wall of China must rank among one of the greatest experiences on the planet. Imagine walking on several sections of this incredible architectural phenomenon, on the 15th Century Ming Dynasty hardrock wall, and then descending in the afternoons on local trails to quaint villages in Hebei Province to camp and meet the local people, still untouched by technology, and farming using traditional methods. |
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Let us take you to the Middle Kingdom's national icon for five days of exploration and cultural discovery, and then to savour the highlights of Beijing , including the Imperial Palace (the Forbidden City) and the Summer Palace. The Aim : The Challenge will be raising funds to help pay for the construction and running of the new Smile Centre in Kosova. Smile International gives practical support and encouragement to poor and needy people around the world whose lives are blighted by war, poverty and illness, with little hope of improvement. One such area in which they work is Kosova. 90% of Kosova's population are ethnic Albanian. Until 1989, Kosova was part of Yugoslavia . After the break up of Yugoslavia , Kosova fell into Serbian hands. A crackdown by the Serbian government on rebels resulted in over 1 million refugees and internally displaced persons, with 300,000 homeless, and an estimated 10,000 dead, including women and children. Kosova is a province of Serbia and the UN and international community are working with Kosovars to rebuild the region, but it will take years.
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