Southampton students given African opportunity

Thirty post-graduate students on initial teacher-education (ITE) courses will spend 10 days volunteering in schools on the outskirts of the Rift Valley province, starting on Tuesday 9 April 2013.

Working with African Adventures (www.african-adventures.co.uk) the trainees from the University’s Southampton Education School will focus on teaching in schools in Nakuru, where the trip will enable students to put teaching hours in Kenya towards their course quota. In addition they may also undertake:

• Community work with underprivileged children;
• Playing and coaching football and multi-sport activities;
• Minor renovation, such as painting and decoration.

The trip also offers students the opportunity to experience the culture and scenery Kenya offers, including a Rift Valley Adventure Day.

Anne Srokosz, PGCE Tutor in the Southampton Education School, says: “As well as responding to the personal challenge of the trip, trainee teachers will broaden their teaching skills in a very different environment, learning from their interaction with Kenyan teachers and pupils, hopefully being able to share their own developing subject and pedagogical knowledge in return. In the future, we expect that some may wish to continue the relationship with African Adventures or the projects visited, either personally or with the schools where they work.”

African Adventures works with local community projects to organise volunteer travel trips, giving people in the UK an unparalleled opportunity to experience a new culture and dedicate their time and effort to some incredibly worthwhile projects.

Dan Mew, UK Development Manager at African Adventures, says: “We are delighted to begin this partnership with the University of Southampton. Volunteers on this trip will help support our Community Development Pledge, where we have committed to providing schools and youth centres across Kenya with teaching, coaching and community support, as well as development assistance.

“Additionally, we are excited at the prospect of supporting the ITE students to share their knowledge within Kenyan schools and gain teaching hours towards their course quota. Most of all, students will have a life changing experience and will have positively engaged with over 1,000 children who live in extreme poverty.”