School news

Gilsland pupils' phone call to Africa

Posted by The Journal on Oct 29, 09 09:00 AM in School news

An emotional phone call united Northumbrian children with their African counterparts during a day celebrating their new-found friendship.

Gilsland Primary School pupils listened to children from the Kenyan village shout and sing to them on speaker phone to celebrate the start of a special friendship between the two schools during a day of African activities.

Pupils at Gilsland Primary School learn about Kenyan culture

Organiser Sam Finn, who has spent time in Kenya and arranged the call, said: "I kept it as a surprise. When I told the head in the morning she was delighted. We put it on speaker phone and gathered in the entrance hall, and the children's faces lit up when they heard the voices.

"What was amazing was that the Kenyan primary school shouted as loud as they could, and the children were blown away. It made them feel that bit closer and made it more real. It was quite emotional."

Pupils learned about Kenyan culture and also about not taking their own environment for granted - they were given a bottle of water which they had to use for washing and drinking during the day.

Gilsland headteacher Chris Boucetla said: "The live telephone link was fantastic - to see the children's faces light up when they heard the hundreds of students thousands of miles away in Kenya all cheering at once was so special."

Headteacher of Ngecho Primary School in Kenya, Mrs Mathenge, said: "We were so excited to hear about our new friends in England and to be able to speak to them at all at once was a brilliant idea. God bless the children of Gilsland Primary School. We would love to welcome them here to visit us one day."

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