IT’S quite common for towns to be linked with similar ones in different countries across the world, but Wolverley has taken this idea a step further – we’re “twinned” with a secondary school in Tanzania!

Actually “twinned” is rather a misnomer as a secondary school in Wolverley, Kidderminster is very different to a secondary school in Rondo, south east Tanzania – as Mrs Blake, our deputy head, discovered when she flew out to meet students and teachers at Mitanga Secondary School.

Speaking to Wolverley Whispers before she left, Mrs Blake explained the background to the trip.

“We first became aware of the initiative called Global Links through the diocese and decided we’d like to be associated with it.” She was at pains to point out that this is not a charitable endeavour and being a Church of England school had nothing to do with the decision to become involved.

“It’s about forging links with an African school so that we can enhance each other’s lives – it will, hopefully, be an enriching experience for all of us.”

Mrs Blake was staying at a guest house in Rondo, but it certainly wasn’t five star! There is no running water in the village – the nearest water source is three miles away – and the closest internet connection is 70 miles away so any communication with “the outside world” is by mobile phone – if the signal is strong enough.

However, the guest house does have its advantages – it is sited within a few metres of an extinct volcano, with views across to the jungle, where lions and leopards roam.

Mrs Blake also taught some lessons, including English. It also gave her the opportunity to assess some of the curricular needs of the school as there is a government grant available which is to be spent on shared curriculum projects.

“This means that we can establish projects both in Tanzania and at Wolverley and buy the necessary equipment. For example, a science project can go ahead because we can use the grant to buy petridishes, test tubes and the like; we can help them with literacy projects by supplying paper and pens.”

Jonathan Rendell, the Schools Improvement Adviser to the Diocese of Worcester, is closely involved with Global Link and has been to Tanzania a number of times. He was anxious to emphasise that this is not a charitable undertaking.

“We have as much to learn from the school children and staff in Rondo as they have from us. For instance, they are far better at being guardians of the earth than we are – yet they are suffering a terrible drought this year and it’s because of global warming, for which we in the West are largely to blame.

“Recycling is a modern trend in the developed countries, yet the Tanzanians have been recycling for centuries; in their culture, waste has always been seen as wrong – a fact we are only just waking up to!”

Jonathan explained that it is hoped that this link with a school in a far flung country, very different to ours, will help us all – students and staff alike – develop a long term relationship which will enhance our understanding of the cultural differences and help us appreciate that we have a lot to learn about how others live – which, in turn, might encourage us make important changes in our own lives.

Through Global Link, there is a fund available over the next four years which will enable teachers from Tanzania to visit Wolverley next year and some of our teachers to travel to Tanzania. The year after that it is hoped that a few students will be able to come to Wolverley.

To help with the travel costs, our students are keen to embark on fund raising activities – so brace yourself for a round of sponsored walks, runs and bike-rides, along with many other means of raising money that our creative students will dream up!

Mrs Blake returned from her visit to Tanzania filled with enthusiasm. She felt humbled by the warm welcome and the generosity and kindness shown by staff and students.

“Although they are, by any standards, poverty-stricken and living in the most basic of conditions, they insisted on giving us home-made gifts and sharing their food with us,” she said.

“And they were grateful for the presents I had brought for them – mainly pens, pencils and exercise books which they are unable to afford themselves.”

During the visit, a partnership agreement was drawn up that focuses on the shared aims and expectations of the relationship between the two schools.

The partnership will focus on two aspects: agriculture (with the aim of setting up a farm area close to the school) and family problems (teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and family finance issues.) A student volunteer group will be set up at both schools, with the Wolverley group being led by teachers of land-based studies, geography, IT and humanities. It is envisaged that the students in each country will exchange letters.

More details will be published in the next issue of Wolverley Whispers, when we will also be able to report on the progress of the partnership.

In the meantime, anyone interested in becoming a member of the student volunteer group, or just wishing to know more about the partnership, should get in touch with Mrs Blake – and look out for the photographic displays around the school.