African Experiences

It has been a delight to welcome the new group of girls into the House for their final year at Ardingly, and they all appear to be settling down well. I enjoy hearing the corridors filled with their laughter and chatter, and have welcomed the opportunity to hear about some of their exploits over the summer – particularly the trips to Kenya and Gambia.

I thought that I would share some of their personal reflections on their experiences and have included a few (of the many hundreds) of photographs to give you a flavour of the adventures.

 

KENYA –  Building Playground Equipment at Ndogo Primary School and more!



Girls hard at work



 The first time these Kenyan children had ever seen a swing!!

Kenya has changed the way I think about life and now I am planning to go on a gap year to teach young children in New Zealand, and want to become a primary school teacher.  Grace Gutteridge

One moment which I will remember for a long time, was when I let a class of children go out to play for break time, and then about 5 minutes later a little boy came back into the classroom and said to me 'Can I learn more?'. (Lauren Hines)

Memories from Kenya will forever stay dear to my heart. Friendships were formed and others enhanced and I hope and believe they will remain in place for years to come. (Freya Barratt)

"Despite the short time we spent in Kenya, we went home with the certainty that we left something lasting behind.  Much of the trip was about giving – giving time to listen, to learn, to teach, to help, to build and to be passionate about what we were doing."  (Tina Neizert)

GAMBIA -  teaching science lessons and learning about life in rural Gambia.

"The science lessons we taught in the Gambia we felt were crucial in the children's understanding of the world around us, I thoroughly enjoyed every unique moment. The lessons that the children taught us: the importance of patience, the importance of supporting one another, importance of enthusiasm for every activity and their appreciation for every detail of our world helped me to see the person I wish to be, and how to make the most of everything we have been given."  Eloise Segal.

"My experience in Gambia was truly unforgettable! The two weeks was amazing, all the people we met welcomed us warmly into their lives. The children we taught were so eager to learn and made our trip to Gambia so rewarding. To visit and volunteer in Gambia is a gratifying experience that changes your perspective on life ... and I will never forget it."  Ellie Entwistle