The expedition team have been really touched by all the messages of support they have been receiving. To enable us to keep in touch with all you lovely people who are so enthusiastic about the expedition we have launched a Facebook Group.

If you don’t have a Facebook account you can register for free at www.facebook.com - it only takes 2 or 3 minutes to register and then you can join our facebook group.

If you already have a Facebook account simply search for ‘Commonwealth Women’s Antarctic Expedition’ and join the group. By joining you will be able to chat to the team members as they prepare for their first winter expedition experience in Scandinavia and keep up to date with all the expedition news and gossip.

See you there!

In 1989 a Russian, an American, an Australian, a Canadian, a Japanese, a German and two Brits skied together as an 8-man team to the North Pole. A friend recently sent me an account of the expedition written by the expedition leader, Robert Swan. The book contained all sorts of lessons for any international team, highlighting some of the pitfalls that the CWAE will be hoping to avoid, but one passage stuck out for me. It is Robert Swan’s answer to the perennial question ‘Why?’

‘With no quarter of the earth now left entirely unexplored, it seemed to me important to rekindle interest among students in our planet and to show by example that high adventure was still at hand, that quite ordinary people without advanced skills can realise the most astonishing and ambitious of goals if they set their minds to it. For only with the vision and courage of the old-time explorers are we going to solve the enormous geographical problems that threaten our well-being in the century to come.’

- Robert Swan, Icewalk

In preparation for the upcoming Scandinavia trip, both members of the Ghana Team of CWAE, Barbara and Sheillah, were proud to add Prince Agbemble, creator of the Body Snatcher Boot Camp, to their support team. Prince volunteered to be their personal trainer, and twice a week, amidst careful instruction, gruelling sets and shouts of encouragement, both ladies are taken through a variation of cardio, strength building and running exercises. The other days of the week, both ladies have engaged in a running program, which consists of walking and running, all in the name of being healthy and meeting the general fitness level.

(Prince is certified through International Fitness Professional Association (IFPA) and American Aerobic Association International / International Sports Medicine Association (AAAI/ISMA). He’s also a Veteran of the United States military and placed Second in the  Novice Tall OCB Body Building Competition 2002.)

I received an email today from a lady who had applied to join the expedition. The email reminded me of the wider aims of the expedition, of our hope that we are planting a seed that will grow one day into something much greater than 8 women skiing to the South Pole - an aim that it is sometimes easy to loose sight of in the daily chaos of organisation, training and fundraising.

Thank you for sharing this with me Jill, you made my day.

“Just a note to say a BIG well done to all those that were chosen for the expedition. I’m sure the job of interviewing was an extremely tough one, and even though I didn’t get to the interview stage your expedition has effects in other ways.

As a teacher in an iron mining town in Western Australia, most of my Year 7 children (11 and 12 year olds) have limited understanding of life outside their town. Knowing that I had applied.. well lets just say, you’ve never seen so many children become enthused and want to talk about why people do things such as your expedition.
The conversations we now have on almost daily basis on how they aim to inspire others or change today’s world for the better is fantastic. Its also great as they look at it through their own eyes and what they could do, rather than the stereotypes that have been placed on them in society.

Once again well done to not just the new recruits, but also everyone involved in the process.”

On Saturday I met with 11 fantastic and dynamic ladies in London to find a UK reserve for the expedition team. I had a really enjoyable day drinking coffee and meeting some wonderful women, all of whom I would love to have on my expedition team. Unfortunately I could only ask one.

One of the aims of the Commonwealth Women’s Antarctic Expedition is to encourage people to think about their ultimate ambition and to make steps towards turning that dream into reality. Sometimes following dreams needs the courage to make big changes. Helen Turton is an example of a woman who went after her ambition of travelling to the Polar regions, even going so far as to quit her job in the process.  I very much look forward to having her on the team.

“My name is Helen Turton. I am 43 years old, and I live in the Peak District in the heart of the UK. I am currently a freelance outdoor teacher, expedition leader and outdoor education advisor, amongst many other jobs.

I hope to learn so much in all manner of ways from such a diversity of team members, and in exchange, share some of the lessons that I have learnt from my previous polar expeditions, and the importance of following your dreams in life. More than anything, I hope to bring a reminder of the value of laughter - when the going gets tough, it’s the one essential quality that everybody will need. I’ve never been renowned for being the quietest member of any expedition!”

Today we contacted 11 UK applicants asking them to come to London for an interview next week. As the emails were sent, it marked the end of the first phase of the team selection process. By next week we will have a squad of 16 wonderful women from 8 different Commonwealth countries, all determined to ski to the South Pole.

In the process of gathering this group of 16 women together, the expedition has received over 800 applications from women around the World wanting to be part of the team.

I have personally read every single application but I feel fortunate to have been able to call on some fantastic friends to help me make some very tough decisions. I would like to say a big thank-you to Chris, Jenny, Tori, Sarah, Jim, Phil, Alex and Jenny Doc who all took time out of thier busy lives to help me assess the applications.

All of us were impressed by the quality and heart-felt sentiments of the applications and were agonised by the thought that not everybody could be selected. I think Chris summed up what we all felt after reading through them :

‘How can we harness that energy and commitment? There must be a way. There has to be a way because it represents a hope for the future and the real meaning of belonging to a Commonwealth of nations.’

I absolutely agree.

Out of a total of 26 applications from women in Jamaica to join the expedition, 10 were invited for an interview at the British Council in Kingston on Saturday. The candidates ranged in age from 19 to 37 and included teachers, journalists, information officers, sales staff and hard-working Mum’s.

Jamaica, like many of the countries involved in this project, is a nation without snow, cold-weather or much of an outdoor-adventure culture and yet all of the candidates interviewed were willing to pitch themselves against the Antarctic without hesitation. Thier motivation? To show the World what women - particularly Jamaican women - can do.

As ever, the decision was a tough one. Many thanks to Pauline at the British Council for helping me with my deliberation and to all the candidates who came to the interview.

Thirty year old Kim-Marie Spence from Kingston loves trail-running and travelling, having volunteered all over the World, including periods in Japan, Israel and India. She works and strategises for a regional think tank and has been involved in a number of other social initiatives. She describes herself as ‘a highly motivated and very curious person - motivated enough to apply and follow through on the things I want; and curious enough for those things to be sometimes off the beaten path’. Kim-Marie hopes that her inclusion on the team will show other Jamaican women that ‘they have no limits’.

Alecia Maragh is a 21-year-old graduate of the University of West Indies from Spanish Town. By taking part in the expedition Alecia is looking forward to ‘not only adventure but friendship, teamwork, hardship, cooperation and laughter in the context of the battle against the elements’. Alecia aims to be a role-model whose example will empower women across creeds, races and cultures and to apply her personal motto to the expedition: ‘laugh easily, love earnestly, learn everything I can, listen to my heart and lean on God’.

The expedition was delighted, and proud, to receive this letter of support from Demetris Christofias, President of the Republic of Cyprus. The expedition, and particularly Cypriot candidates, Stephanie and Athina, would like to thank him for his ongoing interest in our plans and progress.

“With this letter, I wish to join the Secretary General of the Commonwealth in expressing my support for the Commonwealth Women’s Antarctic Expedition which is scheduled to take place between November 2009 and January 2010.

This expedition is important for Cyprus and the Commonwealth for a number of reasons. Besides the fact that it will raise money for women oriented projects within the Commonwealth, it will also promote the work and the value of the modern Commonwealth. Maybe even more important, the amount of effort and resolve required by these women, will bring to the forefront the importance and benefits of intercultural cooperation, and raise awareness on gender issues, proving at the same time the important role that women can play in our societies.

It was a pleasant surprise to find out that a substantial number of Cypriot women applied to participate in this Expedition. Early next year, one person out of the two remaining [Cypriot] candidates will be selected to represent the Republic of Cyprus to the Commonwealth Women’s Antarctic Expedition.

It is my sincere hope that this expedition will be successful in accomplishing its aim so that the eight women representing Cyprus, Ghana, India, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, New Zealand, Jamaica and the United Kingdom, will reach the South Pole on New Years Day 2010. At the same time, I would like to extend my wishes to all the candidates of this Expedition, in achieving this important and noble goal. Thank you once again for your letter and the information that you have provided to me, and I look forward in receiving additional information about new developments on this endeavor.”

The deadline for Jamaican applications has been set for Thursday 16th October at 6pm. So if you are a Jamaican candidate you have a further 3 days in which to submit your application.

Please be aware that in order to be an eligible candidate, you must be able to travel to Kingston for an interview on Saturday 18th October.

Candidates shortlisted for an interview will be contacted by telephone on Friday 17th October before midday, so make sure that you include an appropriate telephone number on your application form.

To submit an application simly go to the ‘Join the team’ page of this site and follow the instructions.

The expedition has received a letter from the office of His Excellency the Governor-General of Jamaica. The letter said:

‘His Excellency was interested to learn that the expedition will involve teams of women from 8 different Commonwealth countries including Jamaica and that the participants are expected to ski over 500 miles in challenging climatic conditions to finally reach the South Pole.

The Governor-General wishes to commend you on this effort designed to demonstrate the potential of greater intercultural understanding and to raise awareness of the work and value of the Commonwealth.’