Can you imagine walking for hours just to get water? How about washing the soiled clothes of more than 20 people with only one bucket of water? These were things Toby Chiu Yim-tung experienced during her 1998 African desert journey, which was part of the expedition programme organised by England-based youth development charity Raleigh International. Now there is a chance for you to learn more about the charity and the programme. Its Hong Kong branch is recruiting volunteers for it fund-raising competition Raleigh Challenge - Wilson Trail, to be held on October 9 and 10. Ms Chiu was 21 when she took part in the programme. She had just graduated from City University and was encouraged by her sister to join the 11-week self-exploration volunteer programme for young people aged 17 to 25. 'It was my childhood dream to go to Africa. But I never thought I would go as a volunteer,' said Ms Chiu, a conservation education worker. 'I thought it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me to live in a developing country completely different from Hong Kong. 'It's something I can share with my children in the future.' She helped to restore an abandoned tourist centre in a national park in Etosha, Namibia, built toilets in a remote area of the country and took part in an exhausting journey across a desert. 'It was an unforgettable experience - seeing all kinds of wild animals in front of me,' she recalled, adding that giraffes have become her favourite animal since the trip and her flat is now packed with giraffe dolls. The desert adventure was the toughest and most memorable part of the programme, she said. 'Before that trip, I had never gone trekking in Hong Kong and had never been to a desert,' Ms Chiu said. The temperature fluctuated from one to 40 degrees Celsius and there was no electricity. She had to carry heavy equipment and do chores such as fetching water and washing everyone's clothes. She had blisters on both feet and suffered severe headaches due to dehydration. It was a gruelling experience but she was finally inspired. 'I woke up one morning and realised that it was my choice to be happy or miserable. 'I didn't want my misery to rub off on others,' she said. 'I was suddenly inspired and my attitude changed completely. I remained positive the rest of the trip. Everyone was surprised.' Her fascinating experience also inspired her younger brother, Colen Chiu Yat-tung, 26. He joined the programme and went to Chile two years ago. 'I was chasing a material life,' said Mr Chiu. 'But now I understand that money has nothing to do with whether you are happy or not. There are more important things in life, such as your relationship with others.' For information on Raleigh's volunteer recruitment and its expedition programme, go to www.raleigh.org.hk