Page 17 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • August 2008 17
Schools extend friendship with South Africa partners

Swindon teachers and pupils enjoyed visits from counterparts from partner schools in South Africa at the end of June.
As part of the global citizenship Pupil Isodorina Khoarai, who
programme last November a group partnered Kate Birch in Novem-
of Year 11 pupils from Greendown ber, said she was very pleased to
Community School in Grange Park make the return trip. “We have
visited Moriting Wa Thuto School in been welcomed with open arms,
the Clarens district of the Free State it is wonderful. Greendown is
and welcomed five pupils and two a very big school with so many
teachers on the return trip, includ- learners and also computers. We
ing Miriam Mbambo who came to have all been using the internet
Greendown in 2005. a lot.”
In a busy week the visitors spent Kate and her family welcomed
time in class and visiting tourist Isodorina to their home. “It has
sites around Swindon and Lon- been fantastic to share our lives
don. Miriam said, “it is difficult to with our friends,” she said.
believe that we are here. When we Her mother Alison had rallied
first made contact with Greendown friends and neighbours to help
many years ago, it was impossible fundraise for the visits. “The ex- Dynamic South African arts and drama teacher Coenie Venter worked with children
to think that our friendship would changes have been life changing at Red Oaks and Wroughton Juniors for a whole week to produce a musical called
be so warm and deep. We really feel for the girls from both countries,” Township Jive which included traditional songs and dance as well as drumming
at home here.” she said. “It has been an education
for us all.” and it shows art and writing to all
The Greendown girls from Swindon and South Africa at the concert by Zimbabwe’s Red Oaks Primary School in the children. It was my first time
Albert Nyathi in the Old Town Bowl on 28 June North Swindon hosted two chil- seeing this.
dren from Dihlabeng School in “And there are lockers to keep
Clarens and their headteacher your things and children here take
Margaret Grant who has now one month for a holiday. That’s a
made several trips to Swindon. lot of time off.
Ntshadi Jaque Mofokeng said “All the children were kind to me
there were lots of surprises at Red and Gabby; we now have a lot of
Oaks for her and fellow pupil Ga- new friends in Swindon.”
briella Dunkley. “At our school we • A film made of the Greendown
don’t have girls playing football, visit to South Africa by Gurgh
but I liked playing it a lot at Red Singh of Swindon Create Studios
Oaks. is being added to with footage from
0533 BP advert_vis1:Layout 1 13/6/08 12:50 Page 1 “Each classroom has a board like Swindon and will be screened later
a computer for the teacher to press in the year.

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