Through the Turing Scheme, ten of our students at HRUC (Harrow, Richmond & Uxbridge Colleges) have successfully completed a month’s work placement in Gqeberha in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
The Turing Scheme is a UK government programme providing funding for international opportunities in education and training across the world. It allows higher education, further education and vocational education organisations, as well as training bodies and schools in the UK to give their students, learners and pupils life-changing experiences to study and work abroad each year.
Of this fortunate group, three RuTC (Richmond upon Thames College) students were able to participate in the experience. Sport Fitness student, Cameron Patrick-Lothian and Health & Social Care students, Isabel De Sa Francisco and Retage Shoushan completed placements in the townships of Gqeberha, where there is a very high rate of poverty, unemployment, and HIV diagnoses. They worked in several schools through the ‘United Through Sport’ charity model to provide coaching, teaching, swimming, and childcare to residents.
The students were working alongside international volunteers from the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy, where they were able to develop their social skills and ability to interact with individuals from different backgrounds. As well as this, involvement in the project provides a fantastic opportunity for our students to develop their organisational skills, confidence, professionalism, teamwork and understanding of new cultures.