9 - 31 August 2009
This summer, seven members of the Sixth Form and two members of staff travelled to South Africa as part of a brand new scheme to develop a link between Abingdon and the South African-based charity, Build the Nations. The seven boys (Timothy Deeks, Timothy Delany, Oliver Henstridge, Jonathan Ient, George Palmer, Bhavik Patel and Harry Porter) had spent the months leading up to the trip raising money for the charity in order to fund the outreach projects during the trip.
The group, led by Mr. Loughe and Mr. Cotton, were hosted by Mr. Brad Palmer at the Shayandima School of Tomorrow mission school for the majority of the trip, travelling daily to the outreach projects during the week, and enjoying the wonderful sights of several national parks at weekends, including the Nwanedi Nature Reserve, Pilanesberg National Park and the famous Kruger National Park.
One of the challenges faced by Build The Nations is to improve the co-ordination and development of children in infant schools in areas where funds and basic equipment are extremely scarce. The outreach projects undertaken by the boys involved the construction of playground equipment for several schools in the Limpopo region of South Africa (often cited as the worst province in South Africa in terms of poverty and education), in addition to a school in neighbouring Mozambique.
The boys were set the tasks of making the equipment from treated wood, bolting it together, digging the holes, and mixing the concrete required to hold the structures in place. With little or no previous experience in any similar types of manual labour, it is to their credit that the work was performed with real dedication, considerable effort and fine craftsmanship. In addition, the group was given the opportunity to observe life in South African schools and interact with the local children, something they thoroughly embraced and enjoyed.
The group also became accustomed to life on the base, helping with painting and repairs to the school, developing friendships with the twenty or so volunteers who reside and work there during the year, enjoying food cooked on the braai (Afrikaans word for barbeque), and taking part in some hard-fought but ultimately unsuccessful Abingdon vs. Shayandima soccer matches.
The School of Tomorrow is also now benefitting from the donations of clothes provided by the Abingdon SUS scheme and the School shop. Two soccer teams in Shayandima are now proud to sport Abingdon kit during matches!
There were so many highlights on the trip that included spotting rhino and leopards on dawn walks and night drives in Kruger, handling young lions in Polokwane, canoeing and swimming in Nwanedi, and numerous game drives in the National Parks which made for some spectacular and memorable views of the wildlife. The most enduring memory of the whole trip was arguably the five days spent in Mozambique, there the group constructed playground equipment, assisted with maintenance to the village church, and most humbling of all provided local communities and local orphans with simple food provisions.
Plans are already underway for next year’s trip, as there remain many areas in southern Africa that are in need of volunteers to assist in similar projects to those completed by the Abingdon boys. This first ever group have helped lay solid foundations for this to take place.
For further information on the work of Build The Nations, including gap year or child sponsorship opportunities, please visit http://buildthenations.org
Visit the photo gallery.
RC/AJL
