Hannah Elkington, a student in the Police Foundations program, recently participated in the Impossible2Possible Botswana expedition in Africa.

The Impossible2Possible (I2P) Botswana expedition consists of eight youth ambassadors, who run 40 to 50 km through the Kalahari Desert multiple times throughout their stay. While in Africa the youth ambassadors spoke to thousands of students across the world via satellite and iPhone connections about their many discoveries.

“Running the Kalahari is one of the most challenging experiences I have ever faced,” said Elkington. “And it is my hope that the lessons I learned during the expedition about myself and the world in which I live will help me as I move forward in life.”

After moving from Kwa-Zulu Natal, Africa to Ontario, Canada, she still keeps a strong connection with her roots. Elkington works with HIV/AIDS orphans; the Kids in Need program; a South African tour that helped the homeless called “Team Afrika”; and also volunteered at a safe house in Cape Town, South Africa.

While studying to become a police officer, Elkington is a youth outreach co-ordinator with the Durham Regional Police Service. After graduation she hopes to become an officer to help serve and protect her community.

“This is the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen one of our students do,” said Maria Iannuzziello, one of Elkington’s teachers in the School of Justice & Emergency Services. “I feel honoured to have her as a student in my program.”