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Cromwell currently has partnerships with schools in Africa and Mexico. In Africa we have links with two schools in Zambia and in Mexico we have links with one school in Aguascalientes.

Our involvement in Africa began with the help of a Cambridge-based charity called CAMFED. A partnership was established with Chisokone Basic School in Samfya, northern Zambia, close to Lake Benguela. Chisokone has some six hundred pupils of all abilities from seven to seventeen years old. A party of staff from Cromwell visited Chisokone and were overwhelmed by the warm reception and hospitality shown by our Zambian colleagues. Partnership work has involved letter exchanges, photograph exchanges and an evening of African music, dance and drama called “Africa Spectacular” ; in addition Year 7 spent a day working on a project about clean water and its importance for Chisokone. Cromwell’s governors, staff, parents, pupils and many Chatteris residents have helped Chisokone to buy books, text-books, stationery and sports equipment. Altogether some £3000 has helped Chisokone’s staff and pupils. Cromwell is proud of this achievement. Mr Mwansa, Chisokone’s Headteacher retired late in 2010; the name of his successor is awaited.

The success of this partnership with Chisokone meant that Cromwell followed the advice of the British Council to link with another school in Zambia. This is as yet a fledgling link but contact has been made with Riverview Basic School which is situated in a small town called Kazungula, not far from Livingstone and Victoria Falls. In the summer of 2010 two Cromwell members of staff visited Kazungula to meet Mr Chaambwa and see his school. Mr Chaambwa is newly-appointed and very keen to link with Cromwell. He faces many challenges at his new school but he is enthusiastic, energetic and wears a constant smile! Riverview has just built its first ever staffroom ; a donation from Cromwell ensured that they have new coffee cups and tea cups! Riverview has as its view the mighty Zambezi river with Victoria Falls only 40 miles away.

Cromwell’s link with Mexico is with a school called Himno Nacional in a beautiful city called Aguascalientes. This school faces fewer of the problems suffered by our African partners. Pupil activities include : letter exchanges, photograph exchanges, e-mails, powerpoint exchanges and some work on the differences between the Aguascalientes region and Fenland. There have been staff exchanges between the two schools. Communication is surprisingly difficult with Aguascalientes and this hinders the partnership somewhat.

Cromwell staff speak with clubs and societies in and around Chatteris about these partnerships and the response and help given is truly amazing. Cromwell’s governors, staff and pupils never fail to support activities associated with our partner schools. There is even a Chisokone Room displaying photographs and souvenirs of Zambia.

It remains a dream of Cromwell to be able to organise staff and pupil exchanges. Hopefully this will be a future development.