Page 29 - link magazine

Swindon Wide 29

Mural to celebrate link between
Swindon and twin town in Central America
Muralist Patricio Marin from Swindon’s twin town Ocotal in Nicaragua
is visiting Swindon for three weeks in October, to raise the profile of
the twinning association and to attend the annual general meeting of
Swindon Ocotal Link (SOL).
As part of renewing relationships Patricio will be working on a new
between the two communities he mural to mark the link between
will work with pupils and students Swindon and Ocotal with students
from local schools and colleges. from Lydiard Park Academy.”
SOL committee member, and for- Not only will students benefit
mer Spanish teacher Gillian Wallis, from Patricio’s artistic input, he’ll
explained how SOL sustains cultural also be able to help those study-
links between the two towns. “We’ve ing Spanish with some practical
brought over dancers and singers in language skills.
the past and we thought it would be Meanwhile, Swindon’s own Ken
Marriott_SLv3.pdf 1 07/09/2012 23:42
nice to have an artist to visit. White, whose work is known the
“There is a great tradition of world over, particularly in connec-
murals in Nicaragua, and here in tion with the Virgin brand, will be
Swindon we have a number of on hand to advise on planning and
murals by local artist Ken White. shaping a mural.
Meet Patricio and discover more about Swindon Ocotal Link at
C
the SOL AGM on Thursday 11 October, 7.15pm for 7.30pm, at
M
Lower Shaw Farm, Shaw, Swindon. All are welcome to attend
Y
CM
Kenyan visitors open the door to new
partnership phase with Abbey Meads MY
CY
Two very special visitors came from Kenya to visit Abbey Meads
CMY
Community Primary School in September as part of a British Council
funded global partnership project to increase professional, educational
K
and cultural links and understanding, writes Juliet Platt.
Reuben Mbwiko, headteacher own thinking rather than trying to
of Mwitasy Ano Primary School force learning. It is almost play.”
and Cosmas Nzilili, who runs the Reuben and Cosmas take drastic
neighbouring rescue centre for steps to ensure children in their sur-
abandoned and abused children rounding county get the education
spent a week in Swindon, getting to they need, including rescuing chil-
know the teachers and the methods dren from harmful circumstances
they use to help pupils learn. and knocking on doors to bring
Visit coordina-
tor and school
bursar Julia Hi-
rons chose to
establish links
with an African NEW
school after ex-
periencing life in ARRIVAL
Kenya in her pre-
vious job. “I left
my heart there,”
she said.
Speaking of
With Abbey Meads children, from left, Cosmas Nzilili,
the differences
between schools Liz Arblaster, Claire Walsh and Reuben Mbwiko
here and in Africa, Reuben said: children to school.”
“We have 467 pupils altogether in Reflecting on his own experience
our school with only seven teach- Cosmas said: “When you go to
ers. We have no electricity and no work in the city you leave problems
library and we rely on chalk. Here behind without doing anything to
the technology seems to help with solve them. In my life people I never
better interaction between teachers knew assisted me, and now it’s time
and pupils, although there is much to do the same for other children.”
that we can do to improvise with In October Abbey Meads teachers
our resources and create a friend- Liz Arblaster and Claire Walsh will
lier atmosphere in our school, just make a reciprocal visit to Kenya Devizes Road, Old Town , Swindon SN1 4BG
like here.” to learn first-hand about the dif-
Cosmas, who himself grew up ferences. (Opposite the Arts Centre)
as a street-child in Mombasa be- Explaining the aim of their trip
fore receiving a Save the Children Liz said: “The focus will be on the Tel: 01793 613000
scholarship to attend school and responsibilities of the children so
university in Nairobi, said: “Here we can come back and convey this www.harmonybrides.co.uk
you let the children experience their to our pupils.”

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