Jetting out on mission of mercy

May 12 2009 by Cameron Hay, Paisley Daily Express

CARING youngsters from a Renfrewshire school will enjoy an African adventure this summer – but it will be no holiday for the hard-working group.

A total of 35 pupils and five teachers from Gryffe High in Houston will jet off to South Africa for a month-long trip of a lifetime.

And their mission will be to help some of the world’s poorest people in any way they can.

The Fifth and Sixth Year students will spend 32 days in sub-Saharan Africa, offering their assistance in a number of countries, including the desperately poor nations of Swaziland and Lesotho.

Both have been ravaged by the spread of HIV and Aids.

Swaziland’s first reported case was back in 1987 and current figures suggest that more than 180,000 people there live with the disease, with 10,000 sufferers dying last year alone.

The situation in Lesotho, which has a bigger population, is even worse, with 270,000 people there currently living with the disease. Last year, more than 18,000 sufferers died.

In South Africa itself, close to six million people are infected with HIV or Aids and 15,000 of these are children.

Last year, the country recorded deaths of more than 350,000 from the disease.

Alyson Lawson, one of the Gryffe High teachers taking part in the expedition, said: “While in South Africa, we will undertake several treks and be involved in project work in the local community.

“The group will be split into two smaller teams after we arrive in South Africa and one team will be working in a community in Lesotho, while another will be working in Swaziland.

“The project work will be very rewarding for the pupils as it will give them the chance to learn about another culture and interact with people whose lives are very different from their own.

“It will also give them a much greater appreciation of the inequality that exists in the modern world.

“Pupils will be working in some of the poorest communities in South Africa and will really have a chance to make a big difference to the lives of the people.”

The Gryffe High team will leave Scotland on Tuesday, June 23, for the journey to Africa.

Since the mercy mission was first planned, the pupils have been raising money to fund their trip.

Events such as ceilidhs, car boot sales and cake sales have coined in funds, which will be used to support the community projects being carried out in Africa, as well as to pay for the cost of vaccinations for the team.

Andrew Morrison is among the students who are eagerly anticipating their African adventure.

The 16-year-old Houston lad told the Paisley Daily Express: “I am really looking forward to facing the various challenges that lie ahead with my school friends, learning about a different culture and helping out in the community.”

And classmate Rebecca Maltby, 16, of Bridge of Weir, added: “I have loved the teamwork involved so far in preparation for the expedition and can’t wait to face the challenges that lie ahead.”

Teacher Alyson is full of praise for the team who will travel to Africa with her.

She said: “I have overseen the expedition from the start and have been astounded by the maturity, commitment and teamwork displayed by all of the pupils involved.”