Reeds group reaches out to those in need

A KWAZAKHELE school principal is hoping his school one day produces South African netball stars and when that day comes, they will have a group of English students from London to thank.

A group of 22 Reeds College students and four of their teachers spent three weeks with the WB Tshume Primary School as part of the Calabash Tours School Project.

Calabash runs three programmes – school support and advancement, pre school support and advancement, and HIV community support – based on the assessment of community needs in Port Elizabeth's townships.

As part of the programme, WB Tshume was expected to host a welcoming ceremony for their guests, organise a sports day involving 10 schools from around Nelson Mandela Bay and provide lunch for their guests every day.

In return, the Reeds group helped with teaching and built a netball field. School principal Buyisile Sali said the time spent with the group was "amazing and we hope they enjoyed their stay".

"The objective of our school is to develop pupils and to live up to that the group blessed us with a netball field. So hopefully our pupils will represent this country on that field," Sali said.

"I do believe that God sent them to us to complete this duty."

Reeds College student Becky Griffiths said she appreciated the school's hospitality.

"I was blown away by the pupils willingness to participate in class and it has truly been an exciting journey," she said.

"I remember just after we arrived in Port Elizabeth I saw a quote from Nelson Mandela saying, 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.'

"So I would just like to echo those words by saying that education brings change."

The group returned home on Sunday. - Chanice Koopman