Resilience & Redecorating: Year 11s make a difference in Namibia
21st October 25
After completing their GCSEs in July, a group of our Year 11 students found themselves back in the classroom – this time in Namibia.
The group headed to the Kunene region to embark on a transformative two-week trip that blended volunteer work, adventure and personal growth. There, the Upper School students spent time lending a hand at a local school, spending time with the children and their families, and exploring the area’s stunning scenery.
Student Bea J-A, now in Year 12, shared: “We spent the first week in a village, volunteering at the local school. We repainted a classroom and a bathroom – it was tough work, but incredibly rewarding.
“In the evenings, we played football with the children and just hung out. I’m taking A level Photography and the kids were fascinated by the cameras, so I took loads of photos.”
The annual trip forms part of the school’s longstanding partnership with Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA), a charity dedicated to fostering peaceful coexistence between desert elephants and the communities who share their land.
“I’ve never visited anywhere like it before”
Fellow traveller Alexia C-F said: “The trip exceeded my expectations in every way. The EHRA team were amazing, and it was also a great group of students – some of us have known each other since we were four! We sang while painting and spend evenings chatting around the campfire.”
Spending time with the locals also gave students a fresh perspective on life. “Seeing people live happily without all the things we think we need was eye-opening,” said Alexia. “I’ve never visited anywhere like it before.”
In the second week, students learned tracking and navigation skills, gaining insight into EHRA’s work monitoring elephant herds.
“On the last day, we had to guide ourselves on a trek,” recalled Bea. “We went off course and ended up walking an extra 10km, but finishing it felt amazing. It really gave me that ‘I can do this’ feeling, which I know will help with my A levels.”
Like Bea and Alexia, many of the students returned to school as members of our Sixth Form this September, and the impact of their time in Namibia was still evident – in their confidence, their friendships and their broadened world views.
The annual Namibia expedition is just one of the exciting trips on offer at The King Alfred School, which all aim to help students to grow educationally and personally. See our Upper School co-curricular section for more information on the range of outings offered, and below for more pictures from the Namibia trip.
