A GROUP of ten sixth-form pupils and three members of staff from Shebbear College enjoyed a fantastic two-week cultural exchange to Uganda.

The trip was the cumulation of almost two years' hard work — each student had to apply for the opportunity to participate in the trip, attend an interview with a panel to justify their place on the team and fundraise to cover the cost of their trip and a contribution towards the charities they would be visiting in the country.

Over the two weeks the team visited three primary schools on the outskirts of Kampala, and experienced first-hand the impact of the Millennium Development Goal of achieving universal primary education — Uganda has embraced this aim and all children now receive free education at primary school level.

However, children do not leave primary school until they have passed their P7 exams, so some of the classes include children up to 16 years of age. There has also been a huge increase in the number of children attending the schools, but this has not been matched by resources or recruitment of more teaching staff — meaning some of the classes had up to 100 pupils.

They sit in squashed rows with pencils poised — if they have pencils, as they have to provide their own — giving their full attention to the teacher.

A spokesperson for Shebbear College said: 'The team found the high value the pupils place on education despite limited resources and such large classes quite overwhelming — many of the pupils they spoke to have ambitions to be teachers, doctors or lawyers — and it made them appreciate the quality of their own education.'

During the trip the team also visited Kira Farm, which is run by Amigos, the Barnstaple-based charity founded by Old Shebberian Phil Pugsley, who visited Shebbear College last term.

Kira Farm is responsible for the vocational education of approximately 40 students aged between 14 and 24 who spend a year there learning catering, tailoring, carpentry and agricultural skills.

The spokesperson said: 'This is a wonderful place — the students are all orphans, many of whom have had their young lives torn apart by war or HIV, and Kira Farm gives them the opportunity to learn skills which will enable them to have a more positive future.'

The team also spent some time with charities supported by Shebbear College on the previous exchange in 2009, including VAD (Voluntary Action for Development) and Katosi Women Development Trust.

They were involved in some fieldwork organised by these community projects, and were able to see evidence of good use of the money raised by the school — they were also able to visit the latrines at Bbira School, provided by funds raised by Shebbear College in 2009, and see them in all their glory.

The spokesperson said: 'The trip to Uganda was an incredibly moving and humbling experience for all who participated with an exceptional team of young people, every one of whom demonstrated tremendous empathy and strength of character and agreed they had participated in a life-changing experience.'