Bishop Wand Exchange

IFA Girls UK Journey!!

IFA took great steps in March in adding to our exchange programme with The Bishop Wand C.O.E School in Sunbury. 5 students arrived in London, travelling abroad for the very first time, all courtesy of the British Council and the IFA partnership with Bishop Wand.

Mr Babacar Gueye and Mme Mame Anna Seck accompanied Miss Marieme Gueye, Adji Ngone Samb, Arame Thiandoum, Seune Sambe and Khady Diaw on a one week trip. The girls were met at Gatwick airport by Deputy Head of Bishop Wand, Mr Mike Boddington and immediately made their way to their hosts houses in the Sunbury area of the UK.

On the first official day the girls visited London and saw many sights including The Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Waterloo Bridge, Buckingham Palace, while still finding time to view the tremendous landscape from the London Eye! The following day, Sunday, they relaxed with their hosts, but still could not resist a game of football in Bushy Park,Teddington! On Monday they visited the school and laid plans for the mini Olympics that they would create for local primary schools, towards the end of the week. They also worked on their own diaries, detailing what they had achieved and seen so far. Tuesday saw them visit the famous Hampton Court Palace, where they were taught all about Henry VIII and the early period of British history that has formulated so much of the modern history that is present today in the UK. Wednesday the girls trained with Fulham reserves and even beat them in a mini match! Thursday saw the mini Olympics, which proved to be a huge success.

The Bishop Wand gymnasium was packed with the IFA Ngor girls and the Bishop Wand girls, teaching the local primary school children about how to perform certain games, such as hop skip and jump, skipping, ball juggling and the triple jump! Friday saw the end of a marvellous week and a superb finale, at a restaurant on the river at Sunbury. As expected it was highly emotional, with the emphasis clearly on repeating this sensational exchange as soon as possible.

IFA CEO Jules Katz said of the 7 day trip, "I am so proud of everyone involved with this exchange and would personally like to thank the British Council for their incredible dedication, to Mike Boddington who showed time and time again his true colours in making this a trip, one that no one will ever forget, to Babacar and Anna for their professional support, to all the Bishop Wand girls who gave the greatest present our IFA Girls have ever and will ever receive - The chance to visit a country outside of Senegal, to be made to feel so welcome, to make friends for life and more importantly, to be made to feel so wanted and appreciated. Thank you to you all. Let us all ensure this is the start and not the end"