by JULIE SPENCE

VICTORIA College student, Emma Lui, has just returned from a once in a lifetime adventure

Emma, who has just started Upper Sixth at the Belfast school,said the five week trip with the British Schools Exploring Society, was "the best thing I have ever done."

After successfully passing a gruelling interview process, Emma became the only student from Ireland on the 32-student team that travelled to the Peruvian Rain Forest.

Whilst there, Emma spent time helping to record valuable data on the Amazonian eco-system. She also helped to record details about the Black Caimans, an endangered alligator-like reptile, and save turtle eggs.

"We were in the middle of the National Reserve, which was really lucky as you need special permits from the government," explained Emma.

"Whilst there we did conservation work with students from the University of Amazonian Studies and helped to rescue turtle eggs from predators."

When Emma found out she had been accepted onto the expedition, she began raising the money she would need. She was sponsored by Raw Outdoors in Hillsborough, who gave her �500 of equipment and a discount on anything else she needed. Friends and family were also very generous. "Myself and some friends ran the Belfast Marathon," explained Emma. 'A male friend waxed his legs and customers at my mother's shop, Maxims, were also generous. I would like to thank everyone for their support."

Emma has had a busy summer. Before jetting off to Peru, the Lisburn girl spent two weeks in Washington DC, representing Victoria College and visiting the legal institutions in the American capital.

And, having managed to fit all that in, she still attained four A's in her recent AS Level examinations. Clearly, not one to sit still for long, Emma plans to go on to university to study law, and will be touring the west coast of America next summer with the Belfast School of Music.

Emma with a Baby Caiman.

Ulster Star
21/09/2007