As a team we are so aware that it takes more than just a few of us to truly make a difference and have an impact on the communities where we work. That’s why we are so thankful for those who partner with us in ways big and small.
One key partner of Beyond Ourselves is Cranleigh School in Surrey. Under the banner of ‘Beyond Cranleigh’ we have been working together since 2010, specifically investing in Kawama School and its surrounding community. Over the past four years we have seen much change at Kawama School; classrooms built, murals painted, teachers employed, children fed, toilet block built, social enterprise set up and much more. And there has been change at Cranleigh too as the ethos of ‘Beyond Cranleigh’ has become embedded in the school.
The partnership between Cranleigh and Kawama continues to deepen as students from Cranleigh visit Kawama twice a year. These times together are significant for both the Zambian and UK students. Here are some of the students’ reflections on trips gone by:
“Each family had a different story. Coming across children who were orphans suffering from HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases, but maintained high aspirations to be doctors, journalists, lawyers and more, proved to be an extremely harrowing and eye-opening experience for us all, and gave us a new perspective on the opportunities that we are offered every day.”
“We were astonished by the passion to learn which radiated from the children. It emphasised to us the value and importance of education and how it is totally underappreciated in the UK. This … specifically helped us to create long-lasting friendships with the teachers and children, especially when monitoring small reading groups.”
“Looking back, saying goodbye to the Kawama community had to be the most difficult part of the week for all of us. Every teacher, every child, everyone involved seemed so grateful for our time, but we felt we should have been thanking them. They have inspired each and every one of us, and some of the experiences we have had will stay with us forever.”
Cranleigh staff and students are currently preparing for the next trip to Kawama going out in July, when we know that yet again lives will be changed and communities transformed – and not just in Zambia!
Visit the 'Beyond Cranleigh' blog to read more on the wonderful experiences the students shared when visiting Zambia:
https://www.cranleigh.org/news/category/beyond-cranleigh/
https://www.cranleigh.org/news/category/beyond-cranleigh/
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