Home and Away- (3) Harrismith Secondary

It is pleasing to report that the second Bablake party to visit partner school Harrismith Secondary in South Africa is enjoying an excellent visit.

As well as receiving regular photographic reports from Head of History Mrs Helen Skilton and former pupil Will Hine, current sixth former Philippa Morris has interviewed some of the Harrismith learners asking them about the partnership.

From the messages below, it is clear that once again lasting friendships are being created between learners at both schools, and the cultural exchange is proving an invaluable experience for everyone:

• 'We have really enjoyed the company of the Bablake learners - it's been a pleasure to have them here as we really appreciate their time for us.' (Thato Mphuthi)
• 'We're all having a lot of fun with the Bablake learners. I really enjoyed going up the hill on Saturday and seeing different animals at the farm park. I'm just happy the Bablake students are enjoying themselves here with us.' (Happy Ntshingila)
• 'I would like to send greetings to everyone back at Bablake in Coventry. We are really enjoying ourselves, especially during break time when we normally go to the shops and teach them new experiences. We have been showing them around our environment and also making sure that they enjoy every second of it.' (Mbali Gumbi)
• 'Greetings! It is a great honour to have your students in our school. We are enjoying new experiences as well as teaching them about South African history. Having them here around us at all times has taught us a lot and how you can live your life to the fullest. I'm so happy that I have had a chance to go to places here with them that I've never been to before in my lifetime. Since their arrival, I've never felt so jubilant! Thank you so much! I'm looking forward to having such a great opportunity as this again.' (Fortune Baleni)
• 'It is nice to learn but not to forget - with these words I would like to greet Bablake. It has been a great pleasure to have Bablake students to our school and great to teach them about South Africa. I've also learnt some other things about my history that I hardly knew about before.' (Lekhele Nthabiseng)

We are delighted to read such warm messages from the pupils at Harrismith Secondary and wish our party all the best for the rest of the visit. Photographs from the visit and the occasional video are being posted on our official Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Photography by Will Hine.