Canford School Partnership trip

Canford School Partnership with Awutu Winton High School, July 2023

Twelve pupils and three teachers flew to Ghana on Saturday 8^th July to spend two weeks at Awutu Winton High School, with which Canford has had a partnership link since 2014.   The school was established by the EDP Trust, which aims to promote educational initiatives in the developing world and is the only free secondary school in Ghana, making it reliant on charitable donations. Money raised by individual and group fundraising events such as a Ghana Partnership Sixth Form dinner at Canford will go towards both new projects within the school, with a focus this year on giving access to sporting opportunities through donations of equipment and team kit.

During their stay, the Canfordians immersed themselves in Ghanaian school life as well as having the opportunity to experience wider Ghanaian culture.  Delicious food was prepared by chef Aggie, ranging from morning fruits to chicken and rice, while the school’s new pineapple press provided a daily dose of ‘Abrofresh’ juice. Canford Pupils worked on a project digging, shovelling and raking ground in preparation for new school lawns and then experienced the unusual task of planting grass blade by blade.  Time in the classroom gave the chance to study with the Awutu students in maths and learn from each other about different perspectives on colonial history and the slave trade.  On the new the sports ground our pupils were no match for the football skills of the Ghanaians, but volleyball, netball, cricket and rugby also gave the opportunity for some wonderful interaction in the afternoons.  The Canfordians led two full school assemblies (known as ‘moral talks’) during the visit and also emerged victorious from a debate about the threat of AI technology. Music features across assemblies and school life in general, and our pupils had great fun with the Awutu students comparing dance moves on many an evening after supper as well as thrilling the crowds with an exhibition of British dancing at its best in the farewell assembly!

Canfordians had brought with them clothing and sports kit including bags of football boots kindly donated by Canford families and these were given both to the Awutu students and also to children at local orphanage that the group visited during their trip.   As one pupil wrote: “Shedrack had high hopes for starting a football team and his face lit up when we showed him the supplies of football boots and kit.”

One pupil summed up the way everyone felt:

It was amazing to see how education could bring such happiness to children even in the most unfortunate conditions.

 

 

 

Richard Salmon, trip leader, commented:

Staying at the School, getting to know our hosts and seeing a little of Ghana itself has been an awesome experience, and eye-opening in all the right ways. There have certainly been challenges, but that is when we have seen the very best of the pupils, and it is hugely to their credit that they have maintained such a positive and engaged approach throughout.  We have smiled and laughed a lot, and they have always thrown themselves into every new experience. As ever, the best part of travel has been sharing with the people we’ve met, and Awutu Winton school has provided an environment which would not be available on a holiday or sight-seeing tour. The memories and impact will last for years to come.

 

For more information about Canford’s Partnership projects, please visit: Community links 

View more photos from the Ghana Partnership 2023 at the links below (password protected via Canford Media for current families):

Ghana Partnership 2023 – Ko-Sa

Ghana Partnership 2023 – Orphanage and Primary School

Ghana Partnership 2023 – Health Walk

Ghana Partnership 2023 – Second Week

Ghana Partnership 2023 – Final Assembly