Students from Lift Winton in Andover have returned home from a volunteering trip to Kenya, where they supported a partner school through building work, classroom activities and wider school life.
At Eileen Ngochoch Primary School, students helped prepare classroom floors for tiling and took part in building work, before the classroom was completed and handed back.
They also spent time supporting learning in the classroom and joined pupils in a school sports day, taking part in football and athletics activities.
The group delivered donated items including clothing, food and educational resources. In total, 358 books were provided to the school, helping to support reading opportunities and encourage greater use of learning spaces.
Staff said the introduction of new books has helped increase pupils’ engagement with reading during the school day.
One pupil, Sheila, received a pair of shoes as part of the donations, with staff noting her increased confidence in returning to school and taking part in lessons.
The trip also included a range of cultural and educational experiences. Students visited the Equator, the Great Rift Valley, a tea and coffee plantation, Thomson’s Falls, Lake Nakuru National Park and Menengai Crater, as well as a giraffe sanctuary where they were able to hand-feed giraffes.
The school said the experience provided students with valuable opportunities to develop independence, teamwork and cultural understanding. They thanked parents and supporters for contributions to the trip, including fundraising support and donations of books and essential items.
Teacher Marie Wilson, who led the trip, said:
“This was an incredibly powerful experience for our students. They worked with energy and commitment at our partner school and embraced every aspect of the trip, building strong friendships along the way. It was something special to see them grow as confident, caring young people, determined to make a real difference.”
Myles Preston, Principal at Lift Winton, said:
“This experience has given students a deeper understanding of different communities while allowing them to make a genuine contribution. They return with increased confidence, perspective and pride in what they achieved. I couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of them.”
