Warwick students’ Africa adventure shown on BBC

An inspiring documentary film following Warwick students teaching children in Africa has been filmed and screened by the BBC.

The film, entitled ‘Our World: A Mission for Maths’, will be exploring the effect that the University project Warwick in Africa (WiA) is having on the local schools, students and teachers by following the students that took part in the programme in South Africa this summer.

The documentary explores the issue of education in Africa and features interviews with those involved in the project, both students and teachers alike.

It aims to show the effect that the project is having, bringing in young energetic teachers with active teaching and learning techniques, using simple games to teach complex concepts and encouraging participation. An example of its success is shown in how some of the original African WiA participants have now gone on to study at some of Africa’s top Universities.

Earlier this year the Boar reported on the Warwick students attempting the Three Peaks Challenge in order to raise money for the project, which managed to raise well over £6,000.

Third-year Economics student Lucia Gobbi undertook the Three Peaks Challenge and travelled to Alexandra in South Africa during summer to teach Maths. A recent study revealed that South Africa was rated 137th out of 150 countries in Maths and Science, and one of the bottom 25 performers on the African continent.

Gobbi spoke to the Boar about the progress that the students made in the month that they were there, with a significantly increased number of students passing their tests. “In my school, the classes were on average 40 pupils to a class; resources were very basic but the kids were all very positive towards us and some have some truly great aspirations,” she said.

“It had a really profound effect on me and I learnt just as much from them as they did from me. I think it’s their attitude towards life, their culture and their hospitality that really touched me. Considering the hardships they face, they are such beautiful, loving people.

“It’s only been going on for a few years and so given time and more funding we could achieve so much more. I think the film will mean that not only will more people know about it but for potential investors to see that it’s been on the BBC will help massively.”

The project aims to improve the quality of teaching and the education of young people in Africa. Since it began in 2006 it has allowed 90,000 students in South Africa, Tanzania and Ghana to benefit from Maths and English lessons and has raised £1 million.

There has been a doubling in attendance of the teacher master classes in Ghana, meaning within two years 580 teachers have attended the programme. A partnership with Teachfirst has also been piloted, making Warwick in Africa an official internship option for Teachfirst teachers.

The film is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer.