THE stark image of a dignified villager infected by AIDs and leprosy and shunned by her community has left sixth formers humbled but inspired after a life-changing trip to Africa.
Students from Trinity Academy, Thorne, will deliver special assemblies this week on the plight of people in Zambia who face poverty and disease on a daily basis.
Food teacher Gerard Dixey led the party, comprising James Quean, Matthew Elwood, Dale Smith, Abbie Tomlinson, Nikita Watkins and Maddie Peacock, all 17, on a two-week summer expedition to Zambia.
They joined students from their sister schools in the Emmanuel Schools Foundation in Gateshead, Blyth and Middlesbrough on the epic trip to Miloso.
While there the students soaked up the local culture, sampled basic African cuisine, worked in home based care for the elderly, taught orphans at Donata special school, which looks after 50 children with a variety of disabilities, and got involved in building projects.
They also experienced life in the bush on an expedition to Mount Mumpu, the highest freestanding peak in the country, sleeping out under the stars with only mosquito nets for cover and deadly poisonous black mamba snakes and scorpions for company.
“The lady was called Rosemary and she was so lovely,” recalled Abbie. “Her husband had infected her with AIDs and he had died leaving her with a 14-year-old daughter and two younger children. The teenager was carrying them all because no one else wanted anything to do with them.”
James added: “We went into the bush and smashed up a tree to make her a crutch so she could at least get around. We found some sponge for the top and it was such a simple way to make life a little bit better for her.”
Maddie said: “People with AIDs are given medication but only for six years and Rosemary was in her last year so we were all really worried about what would happen to her and her children after that.”
They said climbing Mount Mumpu was a true test of their stamina and friendship and reinforced bonds in the group.
Mr Dixey said: “The trip was emotional, physical and spiritual and has given us all a greater appreciation of people’s lives including our own.
“I was so proud of the students; how well they embraced the experience and how they adapted to very challenging conditions. They were exhausted but they did it.”
Matthew said: “We played football with the local children as there was a language barrier but sport is a universal language. But the poverty really hit home when one of the boys snapped his sandal – probably his only pair of shoes – so he just played in bare feet.”
The students plan to help next year’s party fundraise for the annual trip and also hope to keep in touch with former Trinity Academy assistant vice-principal Andrew Cowling who has taken up the principal’s position at a school in Zambia.