The Government has urged secondary schools to reach out to community groups. An exceptionally enterprising partnership between Silverdale School and the Rotary Club of Sheffield Vulcan has taken this a step further to help an African School.
 
Silverdale School, Sheffield, raised £3,750 in the last six months to complete the building of the exam hall at Makanduchi School in Zanzibar, when local funds ran out. Makanduchi's pupils can now sit national exams, a key to their being able to go on to enter higher education and a more prosperous future as teachers, engineers and doctors etc. 

A group from Silverdale School, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sheffield Vulcan, visited Zanzibar during Easter 2007 to view the progress of the project and prepare a link between the two schools. The team included Sarah Rockliff, Head of Silverdale’s Sixth Form and senior pupils Jennifer Pringle and Rob Wilson. They were briefed by Mr Moh’d Ali, Mackunduchi’s Headteacher and his staff.

Sarah Rockliff summed up the Team’s reaction. “It was a real privilege to be introduced to such a wonderful community in Makanduchi, who were so hospitable. We were glad to be able to contribute something tangible to help the school. The fund raising was worth while because it was so appreciated and because we could see for ourselves how the money was spent. It was a fantastic experience which opened our eyes to the possibility of further small scale community development projects."

Geoff Lowe, Chairman of the Vulcan Rotary Club’s Foundation Committee stated “This is a huge achievement. Silverdale School deserves the plaudits it has received.” Rotary is recognising the school’s enterprise by equipping the exam hall with GCSE text books and furniture. 

Silverdale’s efforts were acknowledged at a celebration dinner held on Tuesday 26th June when the Tanzania High Commissioner H.E. Mrs Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar and the Minister Counsellor Mr Idrisa Zahran were the principal guests. Jennifer Pringle and Rob Wilson spoke about various aspects of their visit to Makanduchi and Zanzibar and highlighted the common aspirations of the pupils of both schools. Sarah Rockliff outlined proposals for deepening the links between Silverdale and Makunduchi.

                        

Picture above (L to R) – Mrs Sarah Rockliff, Head of Sixth Form, Silverdale School; Jennifer Pringle, pupil at Silverdale School; Her Excellency Mrs Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar, High Commissioner, The United Republic of Tanzania; Rob Wilson, pupil at Silverdale School.


Earlier that afternoon The High Commissioner and Minister Counsellor were welcomed to Sheffield by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Arthur Dunworth, and Lady Mayoress, Councillor Mrs Kathleen Chadwick.

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Pictures above and below (L to R) – Mr Idrisa Zahran, Minister Counsellor, Tanzania High Commission; the Lord Mayor of the City of Sheffield, Councillor Arthur Dunworth; Her Excellency Mrs Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar, the High Commissioner of The United Republic of Tanzania.

Picture above - inside Sheffield Town Hall
Picture below - outside Sheffield Town Hall, in front of the floral arrangement depicting the pouring of steel into a crucible

                                                                              



Contacts

Silverdale School: 

Sarah Rockliff, Head of Sixth Form, 0114 236 9991

Sheffield Vulcan Rotary Club:
   Geoff Lowe, Chairman, Foundation Committee, 0114 236 2345

Roger Hart, Photographer, 0114 236 7034

Roger Heesterman, President, 0114 230 7654