Our school is an expanding Catholic, co-educational comprehensive school. We are very outward facing and enjoy many collaborative partnerships. These include other Waltham Forest schools, our fellow schools in Brentwood Diocese, the university sector, local business, corporate companies and employers, the charity sector and many others.

We have been working alongside the Twinning association of Waltham Forest to coordinate a trip for a group of young people to visit Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda during this academic year. The islands were the victim of a devastating hurricane in 2017 which shattered communities and lives. The islands are going through a rebuilding programme to re-develop their communities.

The trip that we are coordinating is for a group of our young people to go to the islands to work alongside students and elders through a sports and cultural leadership programme. Our young people will be trained in an accredited course prior to the trip to the Caribbean, where they will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and learn new sports and cultural activities, which they will then be able to teach to members of the community across Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda. The aim of this aspect of the project is threefold: to upskill our young people in leadership attributes; to give students and elders in Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda hope and aspiration as their communities are rebuilt following the hurricane of 2017 and for our young people to learn about other cultures and communities and to broaden their horizons.

Aside form the leadership aspect, the aim of the project is to broaden minds and enable our young people to have the opportunity to experience life outside of Waltham Forest, with a view to raising aspirations and encouraging them to stay in education in order to shape a pathway to their lives that may be different from previous experiences within their families. As mentioned earlier there is a high level of deprivation and poverty amongst some of our students in our school, so an opportunity such as this one, can really aid a change in their lives.

Schools are no longer just about exam results but are now also parents, social workers, mentors who are committed to developing the whole child. We work very hard to ensure that young people do not get drawn into anti-social behaviours, gangs and suchlike as a way out of poverty. We all have a social responsibility to shape the young people and future generations, a small contribution from you or your company could go along way towards this. All donations will be appreciated, no matter how large or small. In return any companies who are able to donate or sponsor us will be marketed via all publications linked to this project and across all of our social media platforms.

Meet the students and see why this project is so important to them!

KYLIE

This trip is important to me as it will allow me to give back to a community. It emphasises the Catholic ethos which is taught and instilled in us at school. Also, it’s going to be an amazing opportunity for someone who has grown up in an area that the media has stereotyped as “run down” and a “place for no opportunities” to challenge the presentation of young people in Waltham Forest, which I aim to share when I return.

REBEKAH

Hi my name is Rebekah and next year I will be going to Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda. I have decided to venture on this trip because I believe it will be a great opportunity for me to grow as a person, learn different cultures, experience new things, influence a younger and older generation and offer support and hope to those who suffered from the recent natural disasters on the islands. As a Christian I believe it is my duty to give back to society in any way possible and I believe in turn this experience will ensure growth in me both spiritually and emotionally. I am also excited to represent my amazing school abroad and be a positive representation of Walthamstow. I also have a passion for travelling and exploring different customs and ways of living. Overall I believe this trip will be an experience I will remember for the rest of my life and will mould me into the person I aspire to be. I am very passionate about this project and I look forward to going on this trip with my fellow classmates and hope to raise the funds to do so. Thank you very much.

PATRYK

Personally, this trip is hugely important because I find that I get to travel to a place I would have never thought about going to. I want to experience the culture and art of Dominica Antigua and Barbuda. I would love to learn new things and come back as a person educated enough to teach others about everything I was taught. Furthermore, I would love to go there to teach other students and elders the sports and activities that we are learning ourselves.

SINEAD

To be able to go on the Caribbean trip is an amazing opportunity for me. I will have the chance to explore and widen my knowledge of a new culture. From this trip, I hope to gain more confidence in myself, especially when I find myself in situations where I need to talk to people who are unfamiliar to me.

SHAUN

The reason why I really want to go on the Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda trip is because it lets me experience a different culture, whilst also giving me the opportunity to help the various communities re-build themselves following the devastating hurricanes that hit the island, destroying families and homes.

MARIE-GABRIELLE

The Caribbean trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity.This wonderful opportunity will allow me to gain so many positive long term qualities such as confidence and new social skills as I will be communicating with people of all different ages and of a different culture.The Caribbean trip is extremely important to me as I am interested in international affairs and foreign aid. I see this opportunity as a stepping stone to my future.

CHARLIE

The Antigua, Dominica and Barbuda trip is an amazing experience for me to become a more well rounded, developed human. Up until I applied for the trip, I had only been to a handful of countries outside of England. With the upcoming trip I have an opportunity to experience a whole new culture and meet new people that I could never have met without it. This is also an opportunity for me to learn about the Caribbean and how my life contrasts to the people living there. Overall, this trip will bring me out of my comfort zone, going to a new place and flying for the first time without my parents; I will also learn a new culture whilst becoming a better human in the process.

PAULINE

This trip is important to me because I'm going to get the opportunity to learn and develop new skills that will also help the communities in Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda. To be able to broaden my views and mind in a different country, around different people is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I want to be part of a legacy for this type opportunity for young people at Holy Family and within Waltham Forest.

ADEYOSOLA

Not only is this a once in a lifetime opportunity; it’s mentally, physically and emotional enriching. Having the chance to familiarise myself with another culture and helping to contribute to their society is an honour especially since it’s part of the Catholic ethos. I’m extremely excited and I can’t wait, because I know this experience will be one that I’ll never forget.

WIKTOR

This trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It will allow me to learn and adapt new skills. I will also be able to see what other cultures are like and how they are different to my own culture as I am Polish. In addition, I will be able to learn and teach skills and sports to people in Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda.

ROBYN

Going on the Dominica trip is important to me as it allows me to try out a potential career path that I am interested in, and acts as a way for me to gain more work experience in this field. In the future I would love to work with under-privileged children in developing countries and teach there so this trip is the perfect way to have a first hand experience of this.