During their summer break, a group of students and staff from Bishops’ Blue Coat High School in Great Boughton undertook a trip of a lifetime to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to further the strong links which have been established in two previous visits by the school and by Chester Diocese.
The students - Hannah Wilkinson, Jacob Hinks, Liam Carstens and Victoria Kendal - along with art teachers Lucy Dentith and Helen Smith, were based at a school and church in Aru in the north of the DRC.
After more than 24 hours of travelling the group arrived in the Ugandan capital Kampala. From here, there was a long journey by road to reach the northern border town of Vurra, where they crossed into the DRC and were met by members of the local diocese as well as chair of governors, the Bishop of Birkenhead, Keith Sinclair.
Party leader Helen Smith said: “The trip provided an outstanding opportunity for cultural exchange as we were made to feel incredibly welcome through visits to villages, schools and the local hospitals. Our students made their own contribution to life in Aru by holding IT classes for groups of local students.
“As teachers, Lucy and I discussed classroom strategies and tips with local headteachers. There was great scope for reflection, as students encountered startlingly different lifestyles, rituals, artefacts and environments. The visit was completed by a return to Uganda where we were able to experience a short safari, getting up close to African wildlife including Nile crocodiles, elephants, giraffes and lions.”
Student Jacob Hinks said: “It has been an amazing eye opener and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Lucy Dentith added: “It has been so inspiring to witness the change in the students since embarking on the trip, they’ve come on a long journey in more than one sense of the word.”
For Helen Smith and Victoria Kendal it was their second trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo as they undertook the journey last year and were particularly keen to go back.
Yet despite their familiarity with the diocese, it did not eliminate the awe and wonder from the trip for them.
“I feel so privileged to have come back, It has been just as educational and refreshing as last year, if not more so,” said Victoria Kendal.
Liam Carstens commented: “It was a really compelling experience, which enlightened and enriched me and really opened my eyes. I came and fell in love with Africa and I shall count the days until I can return.”
The Boughton school hopes to extend the link even further by welcoming Congolese visitors to Chester next summer enabling the Congolese teachers to experience what education in Britain is like, to aid with their education.
The trip was the culmination of a year of hard work organising and fundraising on the part of the Bishops’ High School students who had raised more than £4,000 towards their costs through a range of activities in and out of school.
