Eight girls are heading out to Ethiopia this summer, where they will plan and run a series of educational workshops over two weeks for youngsters in Addis Ababa. The subjects they will teach will include English, Science, Maths, Art and Craft, Music and Drama. The girls all had to raise the moneyto fund their trip, making it the culmination of a year of preparation.
It will be the 11th year that the school, in Hillsway, Littleover, has sent pupils to Ethiopia. As well as teaching during the trips, past pupils helped to build a community library for local children in Addis Ababa.
The group will set off on 5th July this year, working in co-operation with St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Addis Ababa.
Pupil Alice Carlin, 17, spoke of her excitement for the trip: “We have been busy planning our lessons which our teachers will approve. They have to be really detailed but very simple so that the children will be able to follow them. We will probably start off by asking them some questions so that we can assess what level of English they are at.
“I’m really looking forward to the cultural side of the trip; I’ve never been to Africa before and I’m very excited. I think it will be a massive challenge and a good character-building experience… it will [also] be good to give something back to the people there and hopefully make a difference.”
Chaplain at Derby High School, and leader of the Ethiopia trip, Reverend Rachel Barrett, said: “Every time we take a group of girls out to Ethiopia they are always struck by how happy the people out there are. It is something that they remember when they come back home… It is always a rewarding experience.”
