(Text below is from our first contacts with St. Michael's in 2004)

Trinity Church in Hindes Road, Harrow have close links with Emmanuel International an organisation currently involved in a project to build St. Michaels High School in a village called Kilolo, in the Iringa region of Southern Tanzania.  Running alongside this is also a project to erect storage tanks for fresh water at its source a few kilometres away and pipe this directly to the village. Up until recently there has not been a high school in Kilolo and the children in this district have finished their formal school  education at the age of 10 or 11.  Once completed 1200 pupils from Kilolo and surrounding villages will have the opportunity to attend.  Although the area is a predominantly Christian community - places at the school will be open to children of all faiths and none.  A while ago, Rev’d David Varcoe from Trinity led a short term project team to Kilolo, to help in the building work and also to get involved in the life of the local community.  David together with Steve Flashman of E. I. came into NHHS for the Yr. 10 Citizenship Day (on 7 Dec. 04) to do a presentation about the school and the work of the project teams (to six different form groups)       As part of his role to develop the Citizenship programme at NHHS, Jon Mason is planning for Nower Hill to ‘twin’ with St. Michael’s.         

 

He is going to:-

• include information about this partnership here on the NHHS WEB site
• draw the project into the Citizenship and Global Connections programmes      
• arrange Assembly Presentations
• have a permanent display board about the school which will be updated regularly as we receive news from Kilolo
• set up a ‘pen pal’ group to exchange letters with St. Michael’s
• ask what resources St. Michael’s  need that Nower Hill Staff could provide. i.e.  chalk + text books and other resources that we no longer use but that might be extremely useful to teachers in Tanzania

• Jane Wilkinson (who is a member at Trinity Church) made a verbal presentation and showed photographs of the project to the School Council in the autumn with a view to NHHS making a donation to this project from money raised from MUFTI days. This was agreed by the council and subsequently Jackie Georgiou pledged £500 from the December MUFTI day and 50% of MUFTI funds for the next two years is to be committed to St. Michael’s  in support of the ‘twinning project’ which will involve the whole NHHS school community.

 

• Contact us:- wilkinson.jane@nowerhill.harrow.sch.uk

 

• Jon Mason has spoken with School Council this week to explain that initial contact with the school will be an ‘open letter’ which will be drafted by a group formed of one representative from each form group. We are currently establishing a clear line of communication with St. Michael’s – probably via E.I. initially, until the school is up and running later this year.  Kylie Holden has also informed us that her church, St. Michael’ s of Chester Square London, has links with this area in Tanzania.   

 

click here for:- Ariel Photo of Kilolo                     

click here for:- Nower Hill's connections with St. Michael's school in Kilolo,Tanzania

 

Our lives are shaped increasingly by global influences. We live, study and work alongside people from all over the world, bringing together a rich tapestry of cultural heritage within our community. THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY!       

We travel internationally for work and pleasure. The food in our local supermarket is sourced from all around the world. The internet provides information and images from distant places direct to our homes and classrooms at the click of a mouse. Global issues such as sustainable development, fair trade and environmental change are very important areas covered within our curriculum, but at Nower Hill we believe that for young people to become truly active and informed citizens, it is vital that they understand the global influences that affect not only their lives but also those of children in very different parts of the world. As such we are very pleased to establish a bond between Nower Hill and St. Michael's School, Kilolo, Tanzania, a link which we hope will form the basis of an exciting exchange of ideas, experiences, resources and, above all, an enduring friendship between the teachers and pupils of both schools.

Jon Mason, AST Citizenship, Nower Hill High School.