Bourne Community College student volunteers take school spirit to Ghana

A group of 24 students from Bourne Community College in Southbourne, West Sussex travelled to Ghana in West Africa for a 15-day volunteering trip, where they supported local education and community projects.

During their stay, the students worked at Agape International School, Kumasi, assisting local teachers to teach a range of subjects including Maths, Science and English. They also led creative activities such as arts, dance and sports, giving pupils the opportunity to learn through both academic and interactive lessons.

Alongside their teaching work, the students spent their afternoons helping to improve the school’s facilities. The group renovated classrooms and took part in painting projects to brighten learning spaces for the children.

One of the highlights of the trip was launching a brand-new ICT suite for the school. The students helped set up the space with a projector and speaker system, providing pupils with new opportunities to learn using technology.

The volunteering trip proved to be a memorable experience for the group, who embraced the opportunity to support the local community while learning about a different culture.

Deputy Headteacher, Janet Murray-Brown said “Our students are great ambassadors of our school and showed great commitment throughout the trip, making a positive impact on Agape International School, their students, staff and the wider community.”

Head Girl, Anna, said “Not only have I come back feeling more enlightened about other peoples culture, but, I genuinely feel the most emotional connection to those i’ve met on the trip”.

Harvey even went as far as saying that it was the “best two weeks of my life”!

The project was organised in partnership with Sunshine Volunteers Organization, a Ghana-based NGO that works with international volunteers to support education and community initiatives across the country.