For six unforgettable weeks, the Grade 10 learners from Jeffreys Bay-based Global Leadership Academy (GLA) recently embarked on an adventure of a lifetime to Thailand and Laos as part of the school’s annual TravelSCHOOL initiative, which has been described as nothing short of “life-changing”.
Jennie Boersma, teacher and TravelSCHOOL leader at GLA, highlighted the unique aspect of the experience, where learners embarked on a six-week journey with only the essentials in their backpacks, fully immersing themselves in the culture by living and dining with the locals.
At least 16 learners joined the adventure with Boersma, the school principal, Stefan Kleyn, his wife, Estee, their daughters Rebecca and Elsofie, teacher, Jacomien Haumann, and youth leader at Global Church, Henco Bekker.
Boersma said that the experience was exhilarating, with the group utilising a diverse array of transportation, including boats, aeroplanes, buses, subway trains, tuk-tuks, and even second and third-class trains, which added to the excitement and authenticity of the experience.
“We befriended the locals and stayed with them instead of staying in fancy hotels or tourist accommodation. The learners washed clothing by hand, sorted out team dynamics, and grew in humility and character. They also learned to lead by serving others. TravelSCHOOL also had a big impact on learners’ spiritual growth and walk with the Lord,” said Boersma.
She said that while in Thailand they visited the Phi Phi Islands, which she describes as a “once-in-a-lifetime experience”, and they visited a church in Khok Kloi, where they helped to renovate parts of the church building.
“We visited the local houses and ate with the people from the community in the evenings. The learners also helped the local ladies to cook our food, which gave them an opportunity to improve on their Thai cooking skills,” said Boersma.
While in Bangkok, she said Kleyn surprised the group with a challenge, issuing a list of tasks on a piece of paper that required them to navigate the city in teams, use a range of public transportation modes, including taxis, buses, hitchhiking, boats, and subway trains.
Adding an extra layer of excitement, some tasks even demanded that they walk or run to their destinations, testing their resourcefulness, teamwork, and adaptability.
“We had to complete the list of instructions without using a smartphone, Google Translate, or Google Maps,” said Boersma.
“In some instances, the learners had to raise money along the way to enable them to complete the challenge.”
Once they made it to Chiang Saen, the group had a unique opportunity to stay at an all-boys orphanage, where they engaged with the local children by teaching English at local schools, making a positive impact on the local community.
During their time in Laos, Boersma said that they stayed at Hands of Hope, a school for the deaf.
She said this experience allowed them to learn sign language, immerse themselves in the daily lives of deaf individuals, and form meaningful connections, fostering friendships that transcended language barriers.
“This was a very humbling experience, and it was such a blessing. We slept in the classes at the school, and we repainted the school building,” said Boersma.
She further said they concluded their six-week-long experience in Hua Hin where they spent the last few days of TravelSCHOOL resting, exploring, and having fun together.
Boersma said an important part of TravelSCHOOL is ensuring that the learners stay up to date with their schoolwork while exploring new horizons.
To achieve this, she said the team typically dedicates the first three weeks of their journey to completing school assignments, allowing them to stay on track.
“Once we returned to school in July all the learners were at the same academic level as their classmates who had not been on the travel experience,” said Boersma.
She further expressed her gratitude to the generous sponsors who made the TravelSCHOOL experience possible, including Top Trusses, PnP Jeffreys Bay, and the Butterfly Foundation.
“TravelSCHOOL has a big impact on the learners’ lives and these sponsors contributed toward this amazing opportunity. The sponsors really care about the community in which they operate and selflessly engage to see how young learners become confident leaders of good character,” said Boersma.
Grade 10 learner, Timia Jonas, said that during their time in Thailand they shared the Christian gospel in the rural villages and churches.
Despite the language barrier, she said that the people’s love for the Lord allowed them to connect through kindness and service.
“The experience was humbling, beautiful, and indescribable, as I saw the power of faith bringing hope to those we met,” said Jonas.
She further said that the highlight of her TravelSCHOOL experience was going to church, as it allowed her to appreciate what a privilege it is to attend church regularly.
“I grew up in church, but never really saw it as a privilege. While we were visiting the various locations, I heard how far people travel to go to church and the sacrifices they make to ensure that they get to church. Through this experience I realised what a huge privilege I had to go to church every Sunday,” said Jonas.
