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BIG-HEARTED Headford teenager Hannah Sherry has just returned from the journey of a lifetime during which she helped make a major difference to the lives of young people in Africa.

Hannah’s school, Repton in Derbyshire, has forged close links with the Dreamland School in Ghana and the Kerry teenager was one of eight fifth-year students from Repton travelling to Dreamland for two weeks in July.

Hannah and her fellow students spent the fortnight helping improve conditions for their counterparts in Dreamland.

“When we first arrived, despite having some idea about what it would be like, seeing the packed roads, crazy drivers, and women and children dodging in and out between cars trying to sell all sorts of weird and wonderful things was something I couldn't have prepared myself for,” said Hannah.

“However, if that was a shock, it was just something else when we arrived at the school for the first day and the whole school came sprinting over to crowd around our bus, making it impossible to get off or walk around without at least five children hanging off you at all times!”

Hannah helped with teaching, cultural sharing and hands-on building and painting projects.

A talented pianist and cellist, the Kerry teen also hosted music workshops for the children. “We had the chance to teach children ranging in age from 7 to 14, and in classes twice as big as normal, but despite this, the children were so eager to learn whatever we had to offer, from hangman in Spanish to jumping up and down in Biology that at one school, they asked me if it was okay for them to stay on after school had finished to complete the booklet!” said Hannah.

“One of the most heart-warming things was giving groups of children playing on the sides of the roads, new footballs which they were delighted with and so thankful for.”

Money raised at Repton has gone towards building new blocks at the school as well as its café and library and purchasing schoolbooks for the students. “For them, education was the most important thing and they felt so lucky to even be able to go to school, taking nothing for granted and appreciating all the help we were able to offer them. This included resources for their library, sports tops for each of Dreamland's four houses, and for other schools in the area, lots of books which the children were so excited to receive,” said Hannah.

Dreamland’s school population has grown from six children to over 600 since it was established over a decade ago. “The money raised also enabled us to bring over these resources which are going to be such a help to both the staff and students in the schools we visited and their appreciation and the knowledge that they will benefit so much from what we would think of as so little is an incredible thing,” said Hannah.

“Thank you to everyone who donated or helped in raising money for this trip as without it; we wouldn't have been able to do as much for the children in Ghana as we did, and they, and I, are so grateful.”
 

 
Hannah Sherry pictured with students in Ghana.