St. Mary’s in South Africa: A visit with purpose
Following eighteen months of preparation, planning and fundraising, fifteen students from St. Mary’s embarked on a mission to deliver a ‘Leadership Through Sport’ programme’ to students at Mnyakanya High School situated in the remote, rural Nkandla area of South Africa.
This year’s visit was led by Charlotte Wood with support from Catherine Chattoe and Patrick Rogozinski. The team were also joined by Matt and Chloe Crooks,trustees of the Jordan Sinnott Foundation.
The student team comprised of JP Carroll, Jack Booth, Harry Nuttall, Tom Brooks, Chris Jose, Aaron Smith, Ava Shepherd, Leona Vaduthala, Niamh Casey, Isabel Barnes, Zara Helliwell, Evie Harris, Ria Clarke, Gina Bene-Hamill and Erin Healy.
The visit started in rural Nkandla where St. Mary’s students led and organised the Bambisanani Schools’ Athletic competition with for local primary schools. Impressive times and distances stunned the student leaders especially given that many participants were barefooted and running on difficult terrain.
Following four intense days of athletics coaching and leadership training, 40 Mnyakanya High School students were fully equipped and confident enough to organise and host a spectacular Sports and Reading Festival for 60 children from Ntolwane Primary School. Both Festivals were a tremendous success and enjoyed by all. Additionally, as part of the visit, the St. Mary’s students delivered lessons in a wide range of curriculum areas. Enthusiastic staff and students from Mnyakanya High School experienced high quality lessons in geography, maths, biology, and PE.
At a special presentation ceremony and partnership celebration, Mnyakanya students received their much-deserved Leadership awards and students from Mnyakanya and Ntolwane Primary school were presented with a series of annual Bambisanani awards from the John Paul II Foundation for Sport as well as very special awards in memory of Lawrie McCauley, Sbonelo Magwaza and Heather Read.
In collaboration with Newcastle College, St. Mary’s visited Thembimfundo Special School for children with various disabilities and challenges. The team ran a Sports Day for the children, which included dancing, high jump, boccia, javelin and parachute games. It was moving, rewarding and insightful to see how well the children did, and to see how happy they were participating in the activities. The UK team hosted a celebration ceremony where they were delighted to present, awards in memory of former St. Mary’s teacher Matt Harvey. The awards celebrated students who had demonstrated excellence, determination and leadership in sport.
The final part of the visit saw the St. Mary’s students volunteering at uMlalazi Day Centre and Crèche, a centre for orphans and vulnerable children run by the Zulufadder Children’s Trust. This was a magical time for St. Mary’s students where they loved promoting literacy bringing stories to life with the use of props and toys. The students also acted out We’re Going on a Bear Hunt read by Catherine Chattoe and had a teddy bears’ picnic. The St. Mary’s students also helped plant some vegetables for the Centre providing them with lettuce, onions, beetroot and Maize along with seeds kindly donated by members of the St. Mary’s community.
Upon returning from the visit Gina Bene-Hamill said, “I was told it would be amazing, but it was better than that, each day I was more amazed and grateful for being there. It was the best experience I have ever had.”
Niamh Casey said, “Bambisanani was a truly eye opening experience that has provided me with so many unforgettable life lessons.”
Jack Booth said, “A completely life changing experience, full of opportunity and adventure that opened my mind on so many levels and something I will never forget.”
Miss Wood in the final blog of the visit said, “All 15 of you have been a pleasure to work with over the last 10 days. Having taught and still teaching a handful of you it’s been great to see your journey develop as inspirational, caring young adults. I hope you all learn from this experience and build on skills that you have gained. I hope you learn from your experiences, cherish friendships made, but most of all follow your dreams and believe that the impossible is possible with true grit and determination.”
