Archbishop Holgate School’s links with the Diocese of Cape Town
Wednesday, 25th May 2011
Archbishop Holgate’s School was fortunate to be able to welcome a new pupil who joined us for the month of January from South Africa. As a fruit of our relationship with the Diocese of Cape Town the school played host to Ciara Mash who participated in an exchange with Hayley Neal from 11Dy. Ciara arrived into the UK on Boxing Day and came up to chilly York on 30th December to stay with the Neal family until the end of January. At that time Cape Town was sweltering in temperatures in the high 30’s, having hit 40 degrees centigrade at one point!
Of her month with us Ciara said: “The biggest surprise was probably the cold as I’d just come from a very hot south Africa. Although I only saw snow once, there were many other exciting things that happened. The exchange was an amazing experience, particularly being exposed to a different culture. I’ll remember my month here for a very long time, especially all the great people I met at Archbishop Holgate’s School, who made my exchange so fun. I hope to revisit York in my gap year 2013 and can’t wait to host Hayley when she comes over in August this year.”
Hayley Neal, her exchange host, similarly enjoyed the experience. She said: “The exchange that has taken place has been a great experience that has allowed me to build a relationship with someone from the other side of the world. Although I had already met Ciara when I was in Cape Town last year, this trip has enabled me to get to know her much more and we have become great friends. I enjoyed showing her around York, comparing cultural differences, while also having a great time. While she was over here she got to know my friends and family members really well, and found out what it really meant to be cold! The month passed really quickly but I think it's an experience that she will remember and I look forward to doing the same in August in Cape Town.”
In the month of August 2011 Hayley is going to stay with Ciara’s family and will attend the prestigious St Cyprians Girls School in Cape Town. Ciara’s mother, Rev. Rachel Mash, has been a key contact for us during our 3 visits to Cape Town and an invaluable help. She is the director of the AIDS charity Fikelela, with which Archbishop Holgate’s has worked closely for many years.
Another student from Archbishop Holgate’s school, Amy Freer, has also continued to maintain strong links with the Diocese of Cape Town following her visit there last March. Amy was so moved by the time that she spent working with the diocesan AIDS charity that she has continued to support them. Whilst in Cape Town, Amy and the rest of the group from her school spent several days working with Fikelela – the name means ‘Reach Out’ in the Xhosa language. So moved was Amy by what she experienced that she decided upon returning to York to continue the fundraising that she had done before the visit. However, this time it would be for the charity Fikelela rather than to fund her place on the expedition.
So, over the last few months, Amy has continued her cottage industry of making beaded bracelets – and selling them in huge numbers across the county. From village fetes to coffee mornings, beauty shops in Goole to school staff rooms, churches to car boot sales. To date sales of her bracelets have enable her to send two cheques to Fikelela totalling an impressive £700. She is still hoping to sell more bracelets and send more money. They can even be ordered online via the Facebook page she has set up at www.facebook.com/amys.bracelets. Definitely worth a look!
Richard Nihill, Archbishop Holgate's School