Following a presentation in 2006, by kibble pupils and staff attending, a `NEET` (Not in Education, Employment, Training) Conference `A Partnership Approach`, that was also attended by Allison Mitchell of `Determined to Succeed’ we were invited to participate in a ‘Global Citizenship` initiative culminating in a working trip to the shanty township of Belerio Estacio, Guayaquil, Ecuador and a four day environmental trip to the Galapagos Islands.
Sixteen S4/S5 pupils from 4 secondary schools across Scotland took part in the visit. The pupils were from St Paul’s and St Roch’s in Glasgow and Plockton High School from the Highlands along with 2 Kibble pupils. The pupils selected were of mixed academic ability and have a diverse range of needs.
Some of the pupils run a risk of falling into the `NEET` category. Some of the young people involved in the project have lived in various residential or foster care placements, and as such have been institutionalised for a large part of their lives. The young people from Glasgow come from areas of high deprivation and lack social skills and motivation. Although the young people from Plockton are high achievers they have little experience of life out with their small village.
The purpose of the project was to forge relationships between Ecuadorian and Scottish schools, raise awareness of poverty in Scotland and also in a developing country, to develop an appreciation of the customs and cultural differences between the two countries and their people, and to raise awareness of Global Warming and the risk of extinction to the indigenous species of the Galapagos Islands.
The aims of the project were to promote the principles of a ‘Curriculum for Excellence` and to develop confident, successful learners, responsible citizens and effective contributors to society.
Prior to the trip, the young people worked together on a number of activities over a seven month period. They looked at sectarianism within the West of Scotland, and religious intolerance across the world. The young people participated in various fund raising activities developing their confidence and evaluating their role in society. They also took part in two photography workshops in preparation for developing a DVD and exhibition of the trip.
In order for the Kibble pupils to experience the cultural differences of the group we spent a weekend in Plockton participating in a range of team building events and rehearsing a Scottish Talent Show of dance, music and poetry, which we would perform to the people of Balerio Estacio.
Sunday 20th August was to be a life changing experience for the young people and staff involved in this trip. From the main road we could see the shantytown rise up before us like the dark clouds that precede a storm.
The temperature was 38oC. As we left the tarmac road, the dust generated by the old bus as it hit the dirt track stung our eyes and caught in our throats.
The people lived in abject poverty. Their homes were insect infested bamboo huts without running water. There is no infrastructure such as a sewage system, no medical provision and educational opportunities are limited. Yet the people were warm welcoming and extremely friendly.
Working in conjunction with the locals we spent our ten days replacing the floors of two bamboo houses, equipping and painting a nursery, equipping an I.T. suite with computer that we brought with us. We also supported the food kitchen.
In the Galapagos the group visited the Darwin Centre and toured two islands observing the wildlife and looking into the impact of Global Warming.
A significant aspect of the project was the visit in June 2007 to Scotland by eight young people from Belerios Estacio. Just as we witnessed extreme poverty and cultural barriers, they witnessed affluence and also the Scottish weather.
This project has enabled sixteen young people to experience a life changing opportunity to become ambassadors of Global Citizenship and to become confident responsible citizens and contributors to society.
“ I felt guilty about the amount of moaning I do every day in Scotland. I loved being able to help. I loved the people I met and I really enjoyed my experience. I would do it again in a minute as it was life changing and I had the greatest sense of achievement on my return”
Kibble pupil who participated on Programme