Global Dimension

AFRITWIN TOUR TO SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 2009

I couldn’t let the opportunity pass without mentioning how delighted I am with the success of the recent Afritwin Tour to South Africa. The pupils we took were amazing and I am so proud of them for being brave enough to travel to a country so far away and more importantly to be willing to embrace the spirit of South Africa so warmly.

For me, it was a very rewarding trip. Perhaps I am biased but I do believe experiencing the culture of this particular country will change you forever. South Africa is good for the soul! I do accept it is a country full of contrasts but to experience it will leave you inspired by the spirit of its people.

When we were organising this trip, we wanted to ensure that our pupils gained an insight into the real South Africa, not just what the brochures offered. We were very fortunate to work with a small South African tour company called “Footprints in Africa” who really understood our objectives for the trip. With such a short amount of time, we packed lots in. Highlights for me included a trip to the Hector Pieterson Apartheid Museum and a trip to Swaziland. Having lived in South Africa during the Apartheid regime, I was very conscious of allowing our pupils the opportunity to learn about this period of South African history that became so infamous. We were all moved by the stories the exhibitions managed to tell and the suffering of so many became very real for us on that day. I was also incredibly inspired by visiting a small, rural primary school in Swaziland as this, again, gave us such an insight into the difficult circumstances in which many people live their daily lives. Over half of the children who go to the school are in fact orphans, having lost their parents to HIV and Aids related illnesses. Our pupils really connected with them and I am so proud of the way they conducted themselves whilst we were there, even though it was very moving and emotional for all of us. The memory of our pupils playing with disadvantaged children in Swaziland is, so far, the most rewarding moment of my teaching career.

Thank you to Katie Pearson for squeezing so much of our African adventure into one article. It will give you a perhaps more unbiased account of our experience! Additionally, a huge thank you to Miss Kelly for her help and commitment to the Afritwin Project. Most of all, I would like to thank the fantastic young people we took with us (and their parents for trusting us with them):

Katie Pearson, Charlie Pearson, Hannah Jenkins, Emily Ford, Sam Watson, Nathaniel Harwood, Abby Sullivan, Alana Tennent and Poppy Conboy.

I could not have asked for a more exciting and engaged group of young people to share my passion with!

Siyabonga – Thank you in Zulu
Ubuntu – an ancient African word meaning ‘Humanity to Others’. Mrs duPlessis

 

South Africa – A True Adventure!

Going to Africa was the best experience of our lives!! Having counted down the days for nearly a year you can imagine how excited we all were when we got to Manchester Airport. I have to say it was eventful and I don’t think anyone was best pleased at the 28 hour journey, but it was well worth it! Africa was nothing like we expected; it was better!!

The first week was amazing with the most exciting safari ever. We managed to get so close to the animals that it was actually quite nerve-racking. I will never forget the morning when we went walking with lion cubs and how we managed to stroke animals like the cheetah and baby rhino. On our night drive, we came so close to two rhinos that some of us were squealing to back away. It was far more exhilarating than any theme park ride I’ve ever been on! We were also lucky to get quick dips in random pools and of course dine on delicious Braais (A traditional South African BBQ).

I think for all of us the first week was life changing; we learnt so much. Also, we were lucky enough to be able to visit a primary school in a rural area of Swaziland (A separate Kingdom in South Africa). We took some food and footballs to donate to the children and I have never seen anyone so grateful! Really, the smallest things made such a difference to these people. These children had nothing yet they were some of the happiest children I have ever met in my entire life. We were able to play with the children all afternoon and became quite attached to them, so everyone was really upset to leave. The experience was moving for everyone and I think it will stay with all of us forever!

Every day we would travel at least four hours to our new accommodation. Yes it was tiring but thanks to our amazing tour guide “Bev” we managed to turn the bus into a karaoke drive (with amazing vocals led by Miss Kelly). Every place we stayed was amazing, from little huts and traditional thatched beehives to tented cabins overlooking a watering hole in the Kruger National Park. Everywhere we were, we had hectic nights trying to remove creepy four legged creatures from our rooms. But hey, what do you expect in Africa?

After falling in love with our tour guides we sadly had to part but in good style with a final rendition of “Hakuna Matata!”

We spent the second week at Hillcrest High. Everyone was really nervous when we arrived; after all, we were going to be staying with strangers, but we couldn’t have asked for better host families! After having a little bonding session in the first week we were sad to be split up into our families but everyone survived (just about).

My family was incredible. They made me feel very welcome and Simone tried her best to let me experience a typical teenage lifestyle which included a very jammy trip to the rugby! GO SHARKS, I am now a true supporter. Oh and did I mention the milkshakes? (They taste way better over there!)

At Hillcrest we did everything from visiting our other partner high school, Margot Fontein, to pool parties to, of course, scuba diving and swimming with sharks! I have to say Miss Kelly and Mrs du Plessis did nothing more than catch sun that day; it would be rude not to, while all of us threw ourselves into pools of fish and sting ray and whatever else was in there. It was amazing!
Hillcrest High also hosted an awesome cultural evening where all the students performed, including some very nervous Leftwich students, but the night was unforgettable, good and bad. (we were not… impressed let’s say by that night’s menu of rice and leaves??)
Going to Africa has been the best decision I have ever made and it would not have been able to happen without Miss Kelly and Mrs duPlessis, so THANK YOU SO MUCH!! We have learnt so many things and have made so many life-long friends. Speaking for all of us, I think I can say we have all been bitten by the South Africa bug and are all eager to return as soon as possible.

Katie Pearson