Western Province Preparatory School hosted 46 learners from the Ikhwili Primary School in the Eastern Cape, for a tour that was a first for all of them.
Cape Town, South Africa (02 September 2022) – Western Province Preparatory School in Claremont travels to the Eastern Cape each year on tour. In 2017, the school adopted the Ikhwili Primary School just outside Kei Mouth.
Each tour, the grade 7 boys from each school have an interactive sports day and fun is had by all. The point of the sports day is not for competition, but for unity and friendship. The Western Province Prepatory School, affectionately known as the Westpups, look forward to this day each tour.
In 2019, teacher and tour manager Andrew Hughes decided it was time for a reciprocal tour where they could host Ikhwili Primary. The Wetpups and family started raising funds to make the tour a reality. They managed to raise funds for the tour by hosting cake sales, civvies days and book sales, community events and a talk from “Old Boy” David Grier, an inspirational adventurer.
2020 was the year but then the pandemic meant the Wetpups had to put the tour on hold. Fast forward to 2022, and the tour has finally happened this week. The entire tour was a collective effort from every person who loves the school. Parents sponsored meals, donated funds, staff each gave portions of their own salaries, other schools added to the funding pot and the grade 7s hosted a virtual run.
“This year we were finally able to reintroduce our Grade 7 tour- with the added feature of a group of boys spending a week at Ikwhili as part of a school exchange. Here boys were treated to a rural way of life, schooling and traditional meals. In return, Wetpups boys provided technical assistance on devices donated to the Ikwhili school computer center. It was a week well spent for these boys, with lessons being learned and lives enriched.” – Simone Becker
After the Wetpups boys returned from their annual tour, it was Ikwhili’s turn. The school sent 46 of their grade 7 learners along with eight staff members.
Girls were hosted for sports fixtures by Springfield, Herschel and Wynberg Girls Junior School. The boys were hosted for sports fixtures by the Wetpups, SACS and Rondebosch. A real community effort! The staff will be housed in our school hostel.
The tour was completed today, the 2nd of September and it is safe to say that fun was had by all. The children took part in several sporting fixtures and got to go sightseeing in Cape Town. For most children, this tour was the first time they got to leave their hometown. They got to eat out and go up Table Mountain.
Take a look at some of the heartwarming images shared with us.
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