Axis Apprentice Helps Build Schools in South Africa Township

Axis Apprentice Painter and Decorator Francesca Fordham was selected to join a team of 300 volunteers from all over the world to help conduct works on two schools in a township in South Africa.

Axis Apprentice Fran applied for this project – to conduct building works at two schools in South Africa – via her college, North Kent. They had already awarded her the Principal’s Award and Apprentice of the Year Award!

Work began in the township, located near Cape Town, at 8 o’clock in the morning.  Two groups of volunteers conducted building works across a variety of disciplines.

One of the first projects in four classrooms included painting and building bookcases. And further works renovated a security hut, two toilet blocks and external benches. The volunteers also helped with marking out a basketball court and created pathways between schools and classrooms. During the works, the school children sang and read to the volunteers at lunchtime.

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“I was very excited to go on the trip to South Africa and it was an amazing life changing opportunity. It was just incredible to see how everyone got stuck into working all week and didn’t stop until the very end.

It was challenging work, but it was worth it to see how much we changed the children’s school experience. I volunteered because I like to make a difference to other people’s lives.  I am planning on fundraising to go back next year.  I would recommend for anyone to go as it is such a great experience” – Francesca Fordham

Fran’s Return

And  many years later, in 2024, Fran, now a Site Supervisor, applied to the Axis  Foundation to return to South Africa to help build two new classrooms.

Fran said: “Thank you to the Axis Foundation for supporting me in raising funds for my trip to South Africa with Mellon Educate. We will be building classrooms, desks, bookshelves and a playground in two schools in one of the townships. This trip will change the lives of hundreds of thousands of children for many years to come. It is such a great cause, and I will be very proud to be representing Axis while there.”

Find out about the Axis Foundation here