North City News: Teens a class act in Africa; KINGSHURST: Trip of a lifetime for construction students helping school.

Byline: By Nick McCarthy

TEENAGERS were handed the kind of education money can't buy when they were set to work building classrooms in Africa.

The eight City Technology College sixth formers got their hands dirty at the Mungu Basic School at Kafue, Zambia.

They were sent as part of links being formed between Mungu and the college, based at Cooks Lane, Kingshurst.

The teenagers, who are all studying BTEC courses, were put to construction work because the school does not have enough classrooms or equipment to cater for all of the pupils.

In some classrooms, teachers were trying to cope with up to 90 pupils at a time, so the sixth formers helped to build two new classrooms and a library.

The students also delivered a range of activity sessions to pupils of all ages including art, music, dance and games.

The group also visited the Victoria Falls and went on safari in the Lower Zambezi National Park.

Music teacher Kelly Davey, who accompanied the students, said the trip was an unbelievable experience.

"It certainly was a trip of a lifetime for all who went," she said.

"Not only were we able to see the progress of the new building work at the school and work with the pupils at the school, we also saw some amazing sites and tasted some African culture.

"I set up a blog site which outlines the details of the trip and also contains a daily diary of the adventures we had and lots of photographs."

The site can be found at www.kingshurstzambia.blogspot.com

CAPTION(S):

BUILDING LINKS... (from left, front) Grace Jackson, Callum Mills, Ashleigh Whipps (from left, back) Sophie Beirens, Alex Hall and Jess Sutton, all 17. Photosales No.: PT180907tech/6

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Publication:	Birmingham Mail (England)
Date:	Sep 25, 2007
Words:	290
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