Abbey Gate College has a long-running partnership with Mlindzini community in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland).Mlindzini is a remote, mountainous area of the South-Western part of Eswatini, and the College have been working with the high school and its two feeder primary schools, Mbita Primary and Mlindzini Primary, since 2013.

This Summer, and after an enforced delay due to the pandemic, another Abbey Gate College expedition to Mlindzini took place. Participants Amy and Katie (Year 12) wrote the following in reflection of their amazing adventure to Eswatini:

‘In July of this year, a group of 18 students visited the African country Eswatini for roughly three weeks.

The aim of our trip was to build an accommodation for teachers working at Mlindzini high school, who, at the time were all sharing just a couple of rooms, while some were sleeping in the classrooms. There was a variety of jobs to do, including painting, carrying bricks and mixing cement, among many more.

We also got a chance to experience a different culture, trying different foods, watching local dances and singing cultural songs.

In total we were able to enjoy five different safaris, including a sunset and sunrise safari. We were lucky enough to be able to encounter most of the ‘Big Five’, along with zebra, antelope and monkeys.

Another activity that we were so fortunate to experience was the tree top canopy tour, allowing us to experience some of the most breath-taking scenery we had seen yet.

We all feel so grateful that we had the opportunity to visit such a beautiful country and meet the loveliest people.

If given a chance to take part in a trip like this, we strongly recommend you consider it.’