Trinity seniors set for African adventure

INTO AFRICA: Students from Rathkeale College and St Matthew's Collegiate School, along with teachers Cliff Bouton (rear row, second from left) and Kiewiet van Deventer (far right).

Student geographers from Rathkeale College and St Matthew's Collegiate School leave tomorrow for a "world-changing" field trip abroad with a gift in hand of more than $11,000 for a care centre in South Africa.

Rathkeale geography teachers Cliff Bouton and Kiewiet van Deventer organised the educational adventure, which will be the third trip senior college students from the schools have taken to South Africa.

Mr Bouton said the Year 12 and 13 students had raised most of the funds that will be handed to the Missionvale Care Centre in Port Elizabeth, through a variety of events and assignments including a quiz night, a garage sale, selling pea straw and working for friends and family.

Mr Bouton personally bridges the distance and differences between the Masterton schools and the East Cape Province care centre, which his mother helped found about two decades ago.

"Missionvale really is a fascinating example of what can be achieved by one person or a small group of people, who are dedicated to service," he said.

"Sister Ethel Normoyle is the founder and director and she has received many accolades for her incredible work - she was visited by Mother Theresa, Queen Elizabeth and many other famous people, which speaks to the impact of the centre and her leadership ability."

Ms van Deventer said the trip "is the perfect way for the special values students are taught at Rathkeale and St Matt's to be reinforced in a way that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

"I think when they are exposed to such a different culture, physical environment and social dynamic, it will change the way they look at the world."

Natalie Finnigan, marketing and communications manager for the Trinity Schools Trust Board, said the group of senior college students would spend 18 days in South Africa, visiting sites with geographical significance and spending time at the care centre with the staff and members of the wider community.

Trip highlights included a tour of Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years, visits to wildlife and game parks, as well as hikes to waterfalls, canyons and caves to study geological formations, Ms Finnigan said.

-Anyone interested in making a donation to the Missionvale Care Centre in Port Elizabeth should contact the school office on 04 370 0175 or visit the website www.missionvale.co.za