17 Felsted students visited Felsted’s partner schools, Great Lakes High School and Nyakabungo Primary in Uganda this summer. Felsted has worked closely with the Volunteer Uganda charity in the past four years and this year raised £8,600 to pioneer the regions first ever A Level Science course. The visiting Felstedians were able to meet the 20 students currently working on their Science A Level at Great Lakes, as well as teach lessons, paint classrooms and open up a dormitory to support 40 orphans attending the school.
The charity was founded 18 years ago, teaching 70 children under a tree. It now has four primary schools, one secondary school, and one university, as well as water, health and solar projects. It costs £180 per year to sponsor a child, and Felsted School has been supporting these efforts frequently, fundraising through many initiatives throughout the year, including over £7K at their first ever Colour Run and over £8K on various other fundraising initiatives throughout the academic year.
Felsted Chaplain, Rev’d Little, a trustee of Volunteer Uganda, commented; “I’ve never been more convinced that we are making a huge difference and inspiring a sustainable future for the people of South Western Uganda who neighbour Bwindi Impenetrable Rainforest.”
Meanwhile, A Level and International Baccalaureate Biology students took an active and awe inspiring trip to Bali where they studied forest plantations and rivers, revealing a variety of plant ecology, terrestrial ecology and animal behaviour.
During a visit to a local village, the students experienced traditional gamelan music and dance as well as learning how to make bricks and create beautiful batik prints. They also trekked across Mount Batur, an active volcano, which revealed stunning views and was well worth the physical challenge.