{"id":16705,"date":"2024-08-27T13:05:40","date_gmt":"2024-08-27T13:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enkoeducation.com\/?p=16705"},"modified":"2024-08-27T13:43:30","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T13:43:30","slug":"from-classroom-to-continent-enko-education-students-explore-africa-through-extracurriculars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enkoeducation.com\/from-classroom-to-continent-enko-education-students-explore-africa-through-extracurriculars\/","title":{"rendered":"From classroom to continent: Enko Education students explore Africa through extracurriculars"},"content":{"rendered":"
Extracurricular activities are more than just a way to fill time after school; they are a vital part of a student\u2019s growth and development. According to Peter Scales, an Australian developmental psychologist and author from the University of Melbourne, <\/a><\/span>“Extracurricular activities provide a safe and structured environment for young people to explore their interests and talents, build relationships, and develop a sense of belonging and purpose.”<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As parents, you understandably want reassurance about how our school manages extracurricular activities. In this article, we speak with <\/span>Enko Education\u2019s extracurricular activities Manager<\/b>, <\/span>Lauriane d\u2019Almeida<\/b>, to learn how these programmes are organised and their role in fostering well-rounded, culturally aware students.<\/span><\/p>\n What inspired Enko Education to integrate African exploration into its extracurricular programme?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Enko Education has three founding pillars: <\/span>African Roots, Global Wings, <\/b>and <\/span>Future-oriented<\/b>. The first pillar, <\/span>African Roots<\/b><\/a>, emphasises the importance of students having a comprehensive understanding of their environment. Therefore, Enko Education implemented school trips to help students explore African cities and discover new horizons.<\/span><\/p>\n What goals does Enko Education aim to achieve with these trips? These trips serve three purposes:<\/span><\/p>\n In a nutshell, we design these trips for students to discover other countries and interact with inspiring people who can help them explore their professional, business, or entrepreneurial interests, or share their journeys in the country visited.<\/span><\/p>\n Can you give us an overview of some places that students have visited?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n So far, students have visited significant sites such as:<\/span><\/p>\n We are also planning to visit other places in Africa, including:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n How do you select the destinations for these trips? Destinations are chosen based on several criteria:<\/span><\/p>\n How do these trips complement the academic curriculum at Enko Education?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n These trips help students connect what they have learned during the school year with what they discover in the countries they visit. We encourage students to reflect academically on their experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n The academic aspect of the trip is led by teachers from Enko schools, and supported by other faculty members during the journey. These teachers are essential in designing trips that hold educational value and complement the academic curriculum at Enko.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What specific learning outcomes do you expect from students after participating in these trips?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n We want our students to gain more confidence in sharing their reflections and analyses, defending their arguments, listening to others\u2019 opinions, and organising as a group to present their thoughts orally. We aim to develop students\u2019 public speaking skills, especially English-speaking skills for Francophone students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How do you ensure the safety and well-being of students during these trips?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n What preparations are made before embarking on these journeys?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Before departure, we share the trip\u2019s programme, content, and general information with parents and students. We check travel documents with the parents, answer their questions, provide a communication group to discuss with chaperones (usually via WhatsApp) and share emergency contact details.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Parents receive their child\u2019s flight tickets and visas, the name, address, and phone number of the hotel, and the students\u2019 group allocation before leaving.<\/span><\/p>\n What feedback have you received from students and parents about these trips?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n We are pleased to have received very positive feedback from both trips to Rwanda and South Africa. Parents were satisfied with the security during our 10-day trip. Students enjoyed discovering a new city and learning from a new environment, with many likely keeping lifelong memories from these trips. This feedback encourages us to continue and improve our programmes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Can you share any memorable stories or experiences from past trips?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Yes, of course. Goodbyes with parents are hard for students when they leave their countries, but goodbyes with their peers at the end of the trip are also quite moving. I remember students from different countries sharing their last dinner, talking like old friends, even though they didn\u2019t know each other 10 days ago. They helped each other with luggage, waved as they went back to the airport, and promised to see each other someday. It is comforting to know that our students get along well and that such opportunities for them to meet across the network exist.<\/span><\/p>\n What other extracurricular activities does Enko Education offer to its students?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Enko Education offers various activities across its network of schools in Africa, based on parents\u2019 wishes and the facilities available at or near the schools. Students can learn to swim, practice golf or tennis, attend theatre and dance classes, or have fun cooking desserts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n We have clubs such as karate, debate, chess, public speaking, reading, music, basketball, football, and volleyball. We aim to ensure children learn new things even after class, so they are not bored, especially during vacations. During holidays, our schools usually offer local camps, trips, and even remediation summer classes.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Can you highlight any specific programmes or clubs that have been particularly successful or popular among students?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n We have various successful programmes in partnership with well-known experts. One notable example is a <\/span>coding club<\/b><\/a> launched at one of our schools. The course is pragmatic and fun, open to a wide range of students. Younger students build robots, while older ones work on more complex applications. These clubs help students develop skills that are highly valued in today\u2019s world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n