Twins Amelia and Matilda Buttler, 16, of 344 (Fulham) Squadron were the youngest of 31 cadets building a school and nursery for 100 children in Peru.

Two 16-year-old air cadets from Fulham spent part of their summer digging the foundations of a school in the Peruvian Andes. Twin sisters Amelia and Matilda Buttler, of 344 (Fulham) Squadron, were the youngest of 31 RAF Air Cadets on the expedition.

The council published their story on 21 October. The project set out to improve access to education for around 100 children. The cadets, aged 16 to 18, were picked in a London-wide selection.

A week on each site

The group travelled in August, almost 10,000km from home. They worked in two places:

  • a school outside the city of Cusco, for a week
  • a nursery in Urubamba, a town in the Sacred Valley

Cusco sits at about 3,400 metres. To get ready for manual work at that altitude, the cadets trained on obstacle courses and running drills before they left.

“The work was definitely harder than we expected, but it was a great experience,” Matilda said. “We started with just rocks and dirt, digging and pick axing. We levelled the ground, removed rocks and prepared the area to dig the foundations.”

Cadets in hard hats and green high-visibility vests moving a heavy rock in a wheelbarrow on the building site in Peru
Clearing rocks on the building site in Peru. Photo: via Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

Two local schools, and a promotion

Matilda took her GCSEs at Lady Margaret School in Parsons Green this year and now studies fashion design at Morley College Chelsea. Amelia is studying for A-levels at the London Oratory School on Seagrave Road.

“The project really taught me the fruits of hard labour,” Amelia said. “Talking to different people and realising there are so many unique ways of being has given me a lot more confidence. Hopefully we can inspire other young people.”

Both have been promoted to sergeant in the squadron since they came home. They joined the air cadets in 2023. Since then they have sold poppies at Queens Park Rangers’ stadium each November and taken part in Remembrance Day at the Fulham War Memorial and the borough’s VE Day commemoration in Ravenscourt Park.

The trip was not all building. The cadets visited Machu Picchu and climbed above 5,000 metres to Rainbow Mountain.

The two sisters, seen from behind in blue hoodies, looking out over the ruins of Machu Picchu
Matilda and Amelia Buttler at Machu Picchu. Photo: via Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

Who paid for it

The sisters raised money for building materials and teaching supplies themselves, including by bag packing in local shops. They also had backing from:

  • European Heritage, a business on Dawes Road
  • the Jack Petchey Foundation
  • the Young Explorers Trust
  • The Mercers’ Company

What it means for you

  • If you have a teenager who might want to do this, 344 (Fulham) Squadron posts its news and recruiting on its Facebook page.
  • You will see the squadron at Remembrance. Cadets sell poppies and take part in the borough’s services. Our Remembrance Sunday page has the times and places for 8 November.

Sources