Twelve Ferryhill students from across years 9 and 10 travelled to Nakuru, Kenya with Mrs Langdale for a volunteering experience of a lifetime.
Students have spent the last 18 months fundraising for the opportunity, which allowed them to volunteer at the Walk Academy School, which supports children from the slums into education. The students spent five days at the academy, carrying out a range of daily tasks and activities, including construction, in which they helped move rubble, make cement and with plastering. They also worked in the school kitchen to provide over 500 children with the only meal they would get that day.
Before travelling, the students planned and then delivered a lesson to the children and they also gained experience as assistants, helping teachers and staff with any additional tasks, including marking tests or supporting in classroom.
KS3 Learning & Behaviour Support Coordinator, Mrs Langdale said she was overwhelmed with her students’ resilience and integrity throughout the visit: “They quickly understood the level of poverty they were working with and arranged to have food parcels delivered to the most needy families out of their own money.”
After an incredible five days volunteering, students enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience on their day off. They spent the morning on a sunrise safari through Nakuru National Park, where they saw giraffes, zebras, buffalo’s and a beautiful lioness. In the afternoon they visited the Equator, where they crossed between the northern and southern hemispheres and participated in a scientific experiment of gravitational force.
It has been an incredible ten days for all those involved and staff and students would like to thank everyone in the community who supported this amazing project. You can find out more about the students’ hard work and see all of the photos by visiting the Ferryhill School Adventures Facebook page.
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