From Eastbourne to Sierra Leone !

A group of pupils and their teacher from Bishop Bell CE School in Eastbourne are to visit their twin school of four years in Sierra Leone.

They will help set up a computer suite in the school and take part in a celebration for the abolition of slavery.

Beruk Berhane who will be leading a group of four sixth year pupils and three teachers on the trip in November, said that the students will also provide computer training for the children at the Schlenker Secondary school in Sierra Leone.

A new computer suite

The trip is being funded by IDWAL (Inter Diocesan West Africa Link) and subsidised by Bishop Bell school and funds raised by the children themselves.

They are also raising money to buy a video camera for the African school which plans to open up the computer suite to provide evening lessons to the local community.

“Electricity supply is a problem in this town,” says Beruk Berhane, “so we will be paying for a generator to run the computers.”

PE equipment and dance videos

“The children are really excited about the trip and everyone at the school is talking about it,” says Beruk. “All our heads of department meet regularly to discuss how they can contribute to the link.

"For example the history department is creating a lesson plan to send to the school, the PE department will be sending sports kits and the dance unit are creating a dance video for the twin school. We have a Global Awareness Club in Bishop Bell and the link has become part of our lesson plans. “

A second trip

This is the second visit the school is making to their African twin which is an Anglican school with 1500 students who are working hard to rise from the ashes of a recent civil war. 

“The school was ransacked and virtually destroyed during the war, " said Mr Berhane ,"and it is very humbling to witness how hard staff, parents and the church have worked to re-establish it.”

Last year Mr Berhane lead another group on a partnership trip to Sierra Leone and part sponsored the building of a new well which is the only source of drinking water in the school.
They also made a DVD of the trip to bring back to the other students at Bishop Bell.

“When our students here saw the quality of teaching in Schlenker Secondary School, such as their maths lessons, and their sporting achievements, they were totally blown away," said Mr Berhane.

From strength to strength

Whilst they were out there, the students interviewed the Bishop of Freetown and they have even been in their local press and radio to talk about their African trip.

“The children want us to keep coming back" says Beruk Berhane." The children from both schools have formed an emotional bond and many of them have become pen pals.”

Commenting on the partnership, Terry Boatwright, Bishop Bell’s headteacher said, “We hope that this partnership will grow from strength to strength through letters, linked projects and exchanges. "

"We have much to learn from each other and this link can only enhance the two schools. Indeed, it fits in well with our desire to develop all pupils academically, socially and spiritually.”

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