DEVELOPING GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP ACROSS HIGHLAND SCHOOLS AND CENTRESTHEME RELATING TO: INTERNATIONAL / CITIZENSHIP/ SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION

SHARING & CELEBRATING PRACTICE

School / Associated Schools Group / Centre: Primaries: Balnain, Cannich Bridge, Cromarty, Hill of Fearn, Muirtown, Rosebank, Scoraig and Tarbat OldSecondaries: Nairn and Glenurquhart

Date template completed: November 2012 TITLE OF PROJECT / DEVELOPMENT WORK - CONNECTING CLASSROOMS ACROSS HIGHLAND AND AFRICA [ UBUMWE – this being the Kinyarwandan word (Kinyarwanda is one of the languages in Rwanda) for togetherness and it is the name that was agreed for the partnership between schools in Lilongwe district in Malawi, Muhanga District in Rwanda and the Highlands of Scotland.]

Planned Outcomes for Learners - SHORT LIST OF THE DIFFERENCES YOU HOPED TO MAKEA brief introduction to your projectTen schools in Highland were linked, through a British Council Connecting Classrooms project, with a similar number of schools in Malawi and Rwanda. The main aim of the project was to increase pupils’ awareness of life and learning within these African countries but activities also centred on issues such as Fair Trade and Sustainable Development education [ e.g. all schools have worked to improve their own school grounds and some Pupil Council members were successful in achieving the John Muir Award]. In addition to learning about the geography, culture etc of Malawi and Rwanda countries, the pupils have also been learning about their own communities and that of their link schools within Highland through undertaking key projects which focused on the pupils being able to tell their African counterparts about their school, family life, homes, local community town and Scotland as a country. This has allowed pupils to make invaluable links with peers from across Highland and provided opportunities for socialisation as well as to learn with others from beyond their own school. Pupils from the Highland schools have met on various occasions e.g. at Badaguish and in two Pupil Council events which allowed pupils to share their learning. Each school has ensured DGC was embedded within their School Improvement Plan and some have even included the development of DGC within their school aims. As well as pupils learning about Malawi and Rwanda, teachers, too, have become more aware of these countries in terms of the similarities and differences with the U.K. Several teachers from the Highland schools have been funded to travel to both Malawi and Rwanda. During these educational visits, they undertook to lead teacher training on core issues such as formative assessment in both African countries and this was very well received by African teachers. Pupils from Nairn Academy also benefited from visiting Lilongwe in Malawi. They led and participated in a wide range of activities with their African counterparts including sports leadership training (Girls Get Set Go) and working in Lilongwe Wildlife Centre for the conservation element of the John Muir Award.

What benefits has your project had for learners? Pupils have been greatly enthused by their participation in the project and have developed a genuine interest in the wider world. Their appreciation and understanding of their own Scottish, and particularly Highland, community and culture has been raised as well as their knowledge and awareness of African culture and the need to embrace their own responsibility to ensure a sustainable world for future generations. In many ways they have changed their ideas, opinions and often misconceptions about African life and culture through being able to learn in depth about other countries. Several of the schools involved have worked hard to raise the awareness of

Hands of Friendship drawn by pupils of Tarbat Old and Hill of Fearn primaries.

Malawi within their local community. Pupils, and staff, have also appreciated the major differences between the three countries ….not least in terms of ICT development as there have been many problems in maintaining lines of communication.  

Next steps for the projectDue to the funding stream ending after a three year period the project as such as now come to a close although it is very much hoped that the communication links which have been established between pupils in Highland especially will remain.

Partner Organisations & Leader Officers: if relevant please note which partners [public/private sector] within your community have helped you achieve the planned outcomes?

Pupils from Balnain Primary School re-enacting a traditional Malawian song during a recent Pupil Council event which allowed pupils to share their own projects with Highland peers.