South African students' fun-filled visit

EIGHTEEN students and three staff from a township school in South Africa have returned home after a fun-filled seven day visit to Culcheth High School.
The party from Matseliso High School, in Soweto were making a “return visit” after a party from Culcheth High went to South Africa last October.
Ever since then, students staff and parents at Culcheth have been working to raise funds to bring the South African party to this country.
The programme for the visit was packed with lessons in school, a walk around Culcheth followed by a fish and chip supper, a day spent walking in the hills of Wales, attending the High School’s end of year celebration evening , singing to students at Newchurch Primary School and a day in Liverpool which included a tour of Anfield football ground and a look round the Anglican Cathedral.
When asked about the memories they will take back home, the South African youngsters mentioned school meals being much better here than in Soweto, they marvelled at the fact that it was still light at 10pm and they realised, as did CHS students, that beneath the stereotypes people judge other people by, everyone has a great deal in common.
Visitors, host families and staff gathered for a barbecue celebration at Culcheth Sports and Social Club. There were speeches, wonderful singing and poetry reading from the visiting students and many tears as people said goodbye.
After the visitors left, staff at CHS were immediately planning a selection process to create a new team of students who want to visit Soweto next year.
A school spokesperson said: “Heartfelt thanks go out to the staff, students, parents and local businesses who have supported this very special project.”
Pictured: Some of the South African students with their hosts on a trip to Wales.