Students and staff from an Ellesmere Port high school who flew out to South Africa to help make a difference have been nominated for a Your Champions award.

The 15-strong group from Whitby High were on a mission to rebuild a dilapidated play area at a Cape Town primary school.

The big adventure for the students started with a flight from Manchester to Cape Town before travelling daily to the project school.

Over the last five years the school says it has fostered links with many schools across the world but is ‘particularly proud’ of its continuing work with twinned schools in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

At the playground, an elephant climbing frame had been ordered and was supplied by a local Cape Town company financed through fundraising that had taken place at Whitby High.

Ellesmere Port Whitby High School students with Archbishop Desmond Tutu in South Africa
Ellesmere Port Whitby High School students with Archbishop Desmond Tutu in South Africa

The Ellesmere Port students also built a sun shed for small children to hide away from the hot burning midday sun using tyres and reclaimed wood. They also worked hard planting fruit trees and adding more manure to enrich vegetable gardens.

Ahead of the visit headteacher Bryn Heeley said: “I am extremely proud of all the staff and students who have worked so hard in planning this project.

“Their commitment and tireless efforts to raise money to fund their places and provide the materials for the project is an inspiration to us all.

“Their efforts will make a real difference to the community and be a life changing experience for our young people.”

Group leader Krysia Ballance said one of the aims of the school’s African projects was to unite schools across the world.

The party visited world heritage site Robben Island whilst in the country where former president Nelson Mandela was imprisoned and met Archbishop Desmond Tutu.