A meaningful week volunteering at Gogar Primary School in Rongai.

During the half-term break, seventeen Cheltenham College Sixth Form pupils travelled to Rongai, Kenya, for an unforgettable volunteering experience at Gogar Primary School. The trip, supported by the Vanessa Grant Trust and Africa & Asia Ventures, offered pupils the chance to make a meaningful impact while learning from a vibrant and welcoming school community.

Over the course of the week, the group took on a wide range of improvement projects. They repainted and refurbished blackboards, mounted new whiteboards in every classroom, and brightened learning spaces with fresh decoration. Outside, they repaved sections of the school grounds to create safer and more accessible pathways for staff and pupils.

A highlight for many was the opportunity to teach lessons to classes of up to 40 pupils aged between 5 and 14. Despite limited resources, the enthusiasm, curiosity and determination of the Gogar pupils made a lasting impression on the College volunteers.

Inspired by what they experienced in Kenya, the Sixth Form pupils have already begun planning two fundraising events for Spring Term 2026. These include a sponsored walk from the top of Cleeve Hill to Cheltenham College, mirroring the daily journey many Gogar pupils make, and a fundraising dinner and auction hosted at College. All proceeds will contribute to the renovation and rebuilding of bathroom facilities at Gogar Primary School.

As one pupil summarised, “Gogar Primary School volunteering, an experience none of us will forget.”