International Links
The RGS-Tormead International Links partnerships are charitable ventures which provide meaningful, long-term connection with international communities for the mutual benefit of pupils, staff and wider communities. The ventures include staff and pupil visits and exchanges, school development support and fundraising.
There is currently one very established partnership with two schools in Nepal and one embryonic link with a charitable venture in Swaziland-Mozambique.
Nepal partnership:
Our partnership with Bhu Pu School and Jannabikas Chandi School, both in Besisahar in the Lamjung District of Nepal, has existed for ten years following the tragic death of an RGS ex-pupil while on a gap-year teaching in Nepal. His family established the Alex Ewart trust in his memory and determined to support the two schools in which he worked. RGS committed to fundraising for the trust and then in latter years committed to maintaining the established link with the two schools. Recently we have engaged with Tormead School to broaden and deepen the partnerships.
Currently, we run a joint annual expedition for up top 30 pupils from RGS-Tormead to visit the schools and engage with joint projects with an equal number of counterpart Nepali pupils. We fundraise to pay for a small umber of Nepali pupils and staff to visit us in Guildford for two weeks to engage in school life. We work with the Head teacher of Bhu Pu School towards the school development plans. We pay for staff to visit Nepal to support school development.
Swaziland-Mozambique
Next year we will be be running a new joint expedition to work with the Love the Oceans charity towards the establishment of a marine conservation zone. This is an embryonic link to the coastal community and it is uncertain of the future nature of this partnership.
Aims
Aims:
To promote the school values of respect and inclusivity with a specific focus of those of different cultures, by: Providing RGS students with the best possible opportunities to undertake expeditions that are jointly focussed on adventurous and charitable opportunities; and by using our global partnerships to provide a global context to education at the RGS through curriculum lessons; PSHE time; the Field Day programme; extra-curricular opportunities and charitable activities. (See other document for more on this outside of expeditions)
To support school value of service by providing opportunities for charitable activity with an international focus, by continuing to support our international partners and to provide opportunities for RGS students to be involved with charitable work that directly helps our international partners.
Need:
There is a demonstrable, long term need to develop the education opportunities in rural Nepal to allow Nepali young people to engage with opportunities in their own society as well as understanding development and opportunity in the wider world. Correspondingly, the is a requirement to educate our western pupils about the relative wealth and life-riches which they have in order to better understand their position and responsibilities in their community and the wider world.
Critical Factors:
Genuine engagement from partner schools. A good enough level to English language to allow effective communication. Significant fundraising to allow genuine exchange with no cost to partner schools.
Immediate beneficiaries:
RGS-Tormead pupils involved in expeditions. All pupils at Nepali Schools who we visit. All pupils at RGS-Tormead who engage with assemblies and focus days/weeks.
Background
Our partnership with Bhu Pu School and Jannabikas Chandi School, both in Besisahar in the Lamjung District of Nepal, has existed for over ten years following the tragic death of an RGS ex-pupil while on a gap-year teaching in Nepal. His family established the Alex Ewart trust in his memory and determined to support the two schools in which he worked. RGS committed to fundraising for the trust and then in latter years committed to maintaining the established link with the two schools. Recently we have engaged with Tormead School to broaden and deepen the partnerships.
Resources
Appointment of a lead teacher at both RGS and Tormead Schools.
A commitment from the Headteachers at both UK and Nepali schools to support the partnership.
Use of various facilities during visits.
Significant fundraising by pupils for UK schools.
Impact
The feedback from UK pupils and Nepali pupils engaged with the projects is very positive. Feedback from families also highlights the wider significance of the projects. A voluntary family evening to welcome the Nepali pupils and staff this year attracted over 200 people. The feedback from the Bhu Pu Headmaster regarding the impact of our involvement in his school is very favourable and the impact of our engagement with him regarding school development plans is significant.
Pupil Involvement
Expeditions: 30 Y11-Y12 pupils each year from RGS and Tormead
Pupil visit: 4 Y9-Y11 pupils from Bhu Pu School
Staff visits: 2 Staff per year in addition to expeditions
Frequency
Annual RGS-Tormead Expedition
Annual pupil/staff exchange.