Sheffield school soccer team visits TEACH schools in Ekurhuleni

Gill Atwood (TEACH South Africa) and Tim Ellis (Face Africa) facilitated and organised that pupils from Bradway Primary School in Sheffield, England, visited two schools in Ekurhuleni South, Gauteng.

The first school visit was to Jongimfundo Primary School in Vosloorus. The principal, teachers and a few parents who accompanied the young learners from Bradway were given a rousing welcome by the students of Jongimfundo. A short concert featuring traditional dancing and music was warmly welcomed by the visitors. After the official welcome, trees were planted in and around the school to mark the occasion.

On Tuesday, June 15, the Bradway students paid a visit to Ecochoyini Primary School in Thokoza, just south of Johannesburg. For winning a soccer competition, the Sheffield school soccer team’s prize was a trip to see England play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Ecochoyini Primary School soccer team, coached by TEACH Ambassador Richard Marumani, had also taken part in and won a district school soccer competition leading up to the tournament. Well-matched then, the two schools took part in a friendly game of soccer on what was probably the coldest day of the year. Despite the away team’s advantage in colder climate, Ecochoyini won the game 3-1.

Paul Stockley, Bradway Primary School’s headmaster, said of the experience, “We are really excited for both communities to learn about each other, their skills and talents and their history. We are really looking forward to that.” Mrs Maphosa, Encochoyini Primary’s principal, expressed her hope that there will be more cultural exchange between the two schools, and that her students will have the opportunity to return the visit and go to the UK.

The students from Bradway also visited the Phola Park informal settlement surrounding Ecochoyini, where they were exposed to some of the harsh living conditions of ordinary South Africans, an experience that impacted on them immensely.

All in all, it was a successful visit. Callum, one of the young learners, said, “It’s been a good welcome and good experience”, a sentiment echoed by parents of the visiting school.

Visit our website to see the students from Bradway Primary doing the Diski Dance and a message of thanks from the headmaster, Paul Stockley.