"The students did a great deal of work painting, decorating and generally refurbishing and equipping the pre-school. Another sixteen pre-schools in Knysna benefited by receiving a variety of badly needed equipment," explained Andrew Young, a part-time A Level teacher of Beechen Cliff School.
The students met and worked with their counterparts from a number of Knysna secondary school Interact Clubs, attending some of their lessons and getting to know them at a couple of braais. "They played a memorable football match on a pitch adjoining the township pre-school, trying to avoid the cow-pats, and indeed the cows!" smiled Young.
On their return to England, the students were encouraged by Bath Rotary to apply for the Princess Diana International Group Award and were delighted when they won it.
"It was good to see the efforts of the students being recognised by this very prestigious award. Those giving the award were certainly impressed by what we accomplished," Young said.
In conclusion, Young said that they hope to return to Knysna with another group of students in the not-too-distant future.
Peter Klews, Rotary Club of Knysna PR, congratulated the students and said, "The Rotary Club of Knysna and the six Interact Clubs founded by it in Knysna's secondary schools are proud to have been associated with this project and, through it, the Princess Diana International Group Award and look forward to receiving and hosting another group of students from Bath."
Isabel Williams from Hayesfield School and Alex Manaton of Beechen Cliff School in Bath, Uk recently received the Princess Diana International Group Award after their Interact Clubs raised R100 000 for the upgrade of Noluthando Pre-School in Knysna.
