South Africa Trip Report
The group on a sunrise walk at Tiger Kloof.
Merida Zhang, Form IV, reports on the Warden’s recent trip to Tiger Aloof School in South Africa.
The South Africa trip that is offered to the pupils in St. Columba’s is truly a life-changing experience. On this trip, the fifteen pupils and three teachers explored the history behind Tiger Kloof, the school that we were staying at, and how it was influenced by Apartheid, a time of social injustice in South Africa. We also got to know the pupils and staff in the school, joining them for a concert, dinner, some classes and chapels. During our time there, we went to a braai on a farm, which was culture in its finest form. We visited Tiger Kloof’s pre-school and primary school, a centre for disabled youth, and a soup kitchen, helping out where we could. Finally, we finished our trip by going on two game drives on safari and visiting the Apartheid museum. I am very glad that I went on this trip because of the eye-opening view it has given me and the irreplaceable memories that were made on this trip.
A couple moments that stuck out to me on this trip (among countless others), are meeting the children in Tiger Kloof for the first time, the service trips we took to various places in the area, and the museum that we visited at the end of this trip.
After almost twenty four hours of travel, all of us were exhausted upon arrival at Tiger Kloof and also, frankly, a bit wary. However, when we were introduced to the kids at their Valentines’ day dinner and bash, the volume of cheers and warmth that was shown to us was overwhelming and heartfelt. I remember feeling extremely nervous when first talking to people at the dinner, then dancing alongside them (albeit not being as skilled) later the same night. Surrounded by their music and dance, we had our first taste of South Africa, and we all threw ourselves into it, embracing the differences and appreciating them as well. That first night introduced us all to a completely different way of living and to some new friends we never thought we’d become so attached to.
Once we’d spent a couple days in the school, we traveled beyond the school. My most memorable trip outside the school was to the soup kitchen. This is because of the experience of seeing those who would come to the soup kitchen with their empty containers and being the ones who filled them. While serving the food, we also played with the children, giving them whatever we could to make their day. Another reason why it left a lasting impression on me is because this experience made me see first-hand the things that I’ve only heard about. It has reminded me how truly well off and lucky we are, and even that sentence sounds different after this trip.
One of the last things we did on the trip was go to the Apartheid museum. Apartheid is a word in Afrikaans that means “separateness”, and it is the name given to the system of racial segregation that was enforced in South Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s. Despite its straightforward name, we left the museum being so much more educated and aware of the indescribable hardships that people endured during Apartheid. By going to the museum, I understood the people we met throughout the trip better and how strong they all are.
In conclusion, I felt like this trip was a balanced mix of education, entertainment, and exchange in culture. These aspects showed us the good and the bad, and left us with our own growth and memories. It was everything I could have imagined and I am very grateful for everyone who made it happen.
