CASTLEWELLAN’S Cormac Barr was one of 10 South Eastern Regional College students who was in South Africa recently for a 17-day work and study placement funded by the Turing Scheme.
Ten sports students, including Carryduff’s Jason Craig, were accompanied by a number of lecturers and hosted by the United Through Sports charity.
They spent their time working primarily with young children aged between five and 13 living in townships near Port Elizabeth.
Cormac said he thought it would be difficult to talk to everyone and make friends on the trip as he was the only student from Downpatrick campus, but he needn’t have worried.
“Within the first couple of days, were all friends and, I guess, one team,” he said.
“It turned out to be the best trip I’ve ever been on and I would love to visit South Africa again as a volunteer.”
Mr Colin Atkinson — the college’s deputy head of school and one of the lecturing team who accompanied the students — said they were struck by the deprivation and everyday struggles of the young people they met.
“Sport is not part of the national curriculum so it was a great opportunity for our students to plan activities for the groups they would be working with in local primary schools,” he explained.
“One of the principals challenged our students from the first day, asking them to really think about what difference they could make while they were in South Africa and I am proud to say they rose to that challenge.”
Mr Atkinson explained that volunteers from United Through Sport initially took the lead with the activities each day but that by the end of the two weeks, the SERC students were leading the sessions, working with five to seven-year-olds on Learning to Move, a programme which focussed on balance and coordination.
“These children often didn’t have room to move or play so the skills we take for granted, for example, catching a ball, were not apparent,” he continued.
“With older students aged between eight and 14, they led coaching sessions for specific sports, such as rugby, hockey, netball and football. We also had a few dancers in our student group who brought dance to the sessions for all ages, which was good fun.”
The lecturer added: “The United Through Sport coordinators said the SERC students were the best group they had ever had out there for leading and for getting stuck in.
“None of the party had been to South Africa before and I am not alone in saying the visit has left a lasting impression on us all.”
Scarlet Jenkins, from Carrowdore, who was on her first long-haul trip, said she was a bit apprehensive about going, but more upset about coming home.
“The whole trip was such an amazing experience and one that has had a life-changing, positive impact on me,” she said.
“Seeing how these young people had and how positive they were, has made me more appreciative of all that we have at home. If they had two bibs and a ball, they got organised for a team sport and just got on with it.”
In addition to their work placements, the students also got to enjoy some of the sights of South Africa, including a traditional barbecue and cultural evening — hosted by people from the townships — a boat trip, sand boarding on dunes and a visit to the Nelson Mandela Stadium.
Lecturer James Gillen, who had brought a personal laptop on the trip, donated it to one of the schools as part of a scholarship programme, with the SERC cohort planning to keep in touch with United Through Sport and to organise some fundraising activities for them.
For many of the students, the trip has been a life-changing experience, presenting a unique opportunity to gain vital international experience and a better understanding of other global cultures and work practices.
In addition to the increased sense of initiative, entrepreneurship, self-empowerment and self-esteem that comes with living and working abroad, the students gained and improved skills such teamwork, leadership, communication, planning and organisation, problem solving, creative thinking, decision making and commercial awareness.
The Turing Scheme provides funding for students to undertake a study or work placement across the world, contributing to the UK Government’s commitment to a Global Britain, by helping organisations such as SERC to enhance existing international links and forge new relationships.