South Africa Partnership trip
Community service and conservation work on the Global Action trip in October
During our first week in South Africa we engaged in collaborative service activities with a range of communities , as well as visiting the charities which we were fundraising for . This included two afterschool projects , Net vir Pret and Maisie Bokwana ’ s dance groups , plus Adaliah Care Orphanage , animal protection agency the SPCA , as well as our main projects ; working with artist Donovan Julius in the Masbieker ’ s Kloof Sculpture Park and in a Buffeljags primary school .
After a brief stop in Cape Town , including a visit to Robben Island , our first week was spent in Swellendam , working in three different groups . The first group worked alongside an artist based in Suurbraak who works with groups of children from local schools . They created a large mural based around the theme of education on a wall in the village . As well as spending time with the local children and adapting to their culture , we would like to think that , through the mural , we left a lasting impact which will help to brighten the town and to educate the children .
The second project involved painting educational games on the walls and floor of a primary school in Buffeljags . We involved the primary school children in the paintings , using their silhouettes and footprints . Additionally , we played with the children in their break time , setting up netball games and cricket matches , which everyone really enjoyed . Engaging and collaborating with the pupils was always the best part of each day .
The third activity which we were involved in was conservationbased , working in Masbieker ’ s Kloof , where the Mozambican slaves took refuge 200 years ago . We helped to clear forest areas , which had been converted into a sculpture park for the local people . The aim of clearing this area is to turn it into a beautiful space for the people who live there so that they can appreciate nature and their history . The aim was not to gentrify the park , but to allow a wide range of people to use it , and to share time with each other in it . By sharing time together , friendships grow and we understand each other ’ s similarities are more important than our differences . We also planted three oak trees to leave a lasting memory of Sevenoaks for the visitors to the park , and we hope that it will add to the beauty of the park . A Sevenoaks plaque made from a piece of wood was attached to one of the trees at the edge of the area of woodland our group cleared .
These activities were very rewarding to be involved in , as we could see the legacy our actions would have , and the appreciation of the people we interacted with , as well as being able to get involved with day-to-day life and gain cultural understanding .
The second week was spent in Pilanesberg National Park , three hours from Johannesburg airport . This week involved working with conservationists , the Rhinoceros Protection Unit , park rangers and experts in the field of wildlife , conservation and anti-poaching .
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TRIPS , CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES