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Bedales in Swaziland

02/04/2009

Following a second visit to Swaziland earlier this year, the link between Bedales Schools and Mbalenhle Community Primary School has gone from strength to strength. The Petersfield pupils raised over £11,000 to fund the installation of a perimeter fence, the purchase of an electric water pump and chalk boards, desks and chairs for the classrooms funded and built by Bedales last year.

"I had goose bumps when we arrived at Mbalenhle School"says Becks Hobson, Housemistress and IT Teacher at Bedales, on her return to Swaziland. "I wasn’t sure what to expect but driving in and seeing the three classrooms which we’d helped to build, full of children, was just amazing."

Over the last two terms, students have organised jumble sales and silent auctions; sold baked goods, candy canes and Hessian shopping bags. Sixth-formers, Joe and Tom donated money they'd earned over the Christmas holidays to the cause; while 17-year old George raised an astounding "3,000 by walking the length of the River Itchen with his father - a distance of 31 miles.

George explains: "Swaziland was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. It was nothing like I imagined it would be. I never thought I would feel so many emotions while I was there. I was particularly shocked at the rich/poor divide. It's made me appreciate everything I have."

Most Swazis live in chronic poverty and food shortages are widespread. HIV has had a devastating effect with life expectancy plummeting and the number of orphans increasing. Conditions at Mbalenhle School are harsh but thanks to the pupils at Bedales, they are improving.

The installation of the water pump, designed by Ben Shaw, Head of Design at Bedales, means that the school now has running water, which is making an enormous difference to the children’s lives.

The lack of a perimeter fence meant cows and goats would wander uncontrolled around the grounds. Every morning, the school day started with pupils and staff sweeping up the mess in the school yard, where the children play and eat their lunch.

In preparation for the visit, the local community dug holes for the fence posts and the school chairman organised skilled labour. The Bedales students contributed by digging a ½ kilometre trench, removing tree roots and boulders as they worked, so the one hundred fence posts could be concreted in.

Mbalenhle School currently has 25 orphans, many of whom are homeless. Plans are in place to sponsor individual children at the school as well as to fund a cook who will feed the children once a day during weekends and school holidays. Next term the Bedales students will continue fundraising so they can build orphan accommodation at the school.

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