24 students studying Sport and Exercise at Bridgwater College have recently returned from Port Elizabeth in South Africa after delivering coaching sessions to the children of township schools.
Bridgwater College Sport & Exercise students during their trip to South Africa
This is the College’s sixth visit to South Africa and is run in partnership with United Through Sport in Port Elizabeth. To support their visit the students raised funds to purchase equipment and kit, which they gave to the schools and used to support their coaching sessions. Medals and trophies were also awarded to the winning schools and were subsidised by the Trophycentre.com.
Krae Bell with children from Emzomncane Primary School
The students coached a variety of sports including football, rugby, netball and hockey and also organised and ran a tournament for six schools, engaging more than 240 children aged up to 13 in the competition. The students showed outstanding enthusiasm, commitment and teamwork while coping with poor facilities, conditions and very hot temperatures
Natalie Heal with her junior netball players
Student, Jade Barry of Bristol said,
“I feel my coaching improved over the course of the trip. As I became more confident at dealing with different situations and environments my skills developed. For example, we had to coach reception aged children in Emzoncane and then coach children aged 13-14 which made me become more adaptable with coaching different abilities.”
Students also spent time working with local children teaching Maths and English. Luke Sinclair of Bridgwater said,
Ali Ham teaching percentages and fractions in Emzomncane Primary School
“By observing how children learn in a classroom was a massive eye opener for me, because of this I have changed my future career thoughts and now wish to also teach in a classroom.”
Sam Reilly, Advanced Practitioner for Sports and Services said,
“A huge thank you to all those who have supported the venture through donations at local bag packs and to the kind donation of the local business ‘Monmouth Scientific’. Without your support we would not have been able to run the tournament and feed all 240 children!”
Student, Lewis Plece of Bridgwater said,
“Despite the horrible conditions the children live in, they are the happiest children you will ever meet.”
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