Reflections

After our final day at school today I thought it was about time I posted more than photos on the blog. 

This has been another great visit to this hospitable and wonderful country. You have heard much about the day to day activities of the students and the fun they have had but this is much more than an opportunity to do good for another. 

The students of Roding Valley have grown this week. They have embraced a different culture, faced unforeseen challenges and grappled with questions about inequality for which there are no easy answers. They have learnt things this week about what it is to be community, how to have joy that is not created by physical wealth and how one person with a heart for change can make a difference, however small, in the world we all share. They have learnt things no text book can teach. They have learnt to live simply so that others may simply live.

My thanks go to the governors, Mr Banks  (Headteacher) and all the staff of Roding Valley for their ongoing support for this partnership. I am grateful too to all the parents who have entrusted their children to our care on this visit. They have made me very proud and I am sure you are looking forward to having them home. Finally thank you to Jodie Collins and Beyond ourselves for their vision for transformation and for allowing us to share in it. I hope you, the reader, have enjoyed following our journey, beyond ourselves.

Ms Bentley

The final day at Greater Joy

Thank you to one of our sponsors

Singing, Sobbing and So Much Paint

Today, the last day at Greater Joy School, was one never to be forgotten. We arrived ready and rearing for a busy few hours ahead, determined to finish all of our jobs, as well as have time to play with the children, and say our goodbyes. 

We glossed all the windows, touched up both two murals, observed lessons, handed out our gifts, tidied the playground and had a very emotional goodbye. The teachers at the school gave us an incredible and warm hearted farewell, by singing to us a touching song in the church hall. After this we knew it was time to clean up and say goodbye to the children, which brought many of us to tears, as we had all built up such bonds with specific pupils. 

We were overwhelmed with the idea of saying goodbye to students who we'd developed such strong relationships with, within the space of one week and knowing we probably wouldn't see the students for a long time, if not ever again. But we were all reassured that our work and projects would hopefully put a smile on their faces during their time at school. 

Our experience at Greater Joy, on behalf of the entire team, has truly left a life long impression on us and the positivity and enthusiasm of the children, many who have nothing, has truly inspired us.

We will never forget Greater Joy School

Clara and Laura

Cocker cuts yet more shapes!

After another hard but rewarding day at the school, we are all beginning to see our plans coming together. Numerous hours of hammering and painting have paid off, which has been made evident by the increasing difficulty to keep the pupils out of the outdoor learning area.
The Zambia team were invited to a social evening with the Bishop of the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Zambia and the teachers of Greater Joy School. I know I can speak for everyone when I say it was a fantastic experience being able to get to know the different members of the community, and enjoying the delicious food that the cooks once again prepared for us. We took part in prayers led by Ospeck, the Pastor of Greater Joy and enjoyed 'cutting shapes' on the dance floor with the church community, I'm not sure how our macarena, led by Mr Cocker, was received by the locals! We were also treated to gifts by our overwhelmingly kind guests - we were each given a Zambian scarf...apparently 30 degrees is cold here!
It was an amazing experience to be a part of, and it really hit home that the work we are doing here is greatly impacting and highly appreciated by the local community. Tomorrow, as our final day, will certainly be very emotional and more than a few tears will be shed!

By Katie

Day 6 craft activities

Day 6 practical work

Haggling and A Happy Gappie

Between the hustle and bustle of the busy Kitwe town centre, we split into groups of three and ventured into the ever-so-busy outskirts of the local market. Statue giraffes, colourful Zambian paintings and beautifully hand-crafted jewellery scattered throughout the market area, each stall however similar had it's own unique items and selling techniques, drawing us in and enticing us into the wonderful world of Zambian craft. After a good half hour of bartering with the sellers, some whom were charging their typical 'tourist prices', allowing us a good opportunity to show off and practice our haggling skills, even managing to get below half of what they had previously offered! This allowed us to each leave the market with a bag of delightful Zambian goodies before jumping back onto the bus.

After our glorious shopping spree, a group of the girls decided to give Charlie's (one of the gappies') beard a pampering session. This consisted of conditioning, blowdrying and straightening... to a professional standard of course. Charlie now feels "refreshed and transformed... it's like I have a new beard."
We now have one happy gappie.

We're now sat out on the patio, making the most of the warm evening, reflecting on our day and looking forward to another jam-packed day tomorrow.

Lots of love,

Sophie T and Felicity

A visit to the homes of our Zambian hosts

Day four at the school has been tiring. The jungle mural is almost finished and we have started painting the rainbow mural whilst the outdoor learning area is nearly ready to climb. Some of us also went on home visits with four children from Greater Joy welcoming us into their houses.

The first house belonged to two students at Greater Joy, who are sisters, living with their mother, as well as six others. We then visited a second house of one girl at Greater Joy, who lives with her aunt - training to be a teacher - and some of her other family. The last house is where three siblings live - one of whom attends Greater Joy - and they live with their Grandmother, who unfortunately has been taken ill but is acting very strongly to bring up her grandchildren.

It was a big eye-opener for us all to experience and made us realise what we take for granted in our day-to-day lives. It also shows the poverty that they experience, however they were really welcoming and held such pride in their homes.

We are now sorting out bits and pieces for a craft afternoon with the children tomorrow, which we are all really looking forward to and we are really happy that we now have our luggage.

By Claudia, Rhianna and Laura

Day 5