Over 70 tourism industry professionals recently gathered at our school to plant 150 indigenous trees with our students. The tree donation was made possible by We Are Africa, the world’s most vibrant gathering of luxury African travel brands, and their community development partner, Uthando. The partnership between We Are Africa and Uthando also extended to the sponsorship of one of our Grade 10 students, Christaylior B., who expressed a keen interest in pursuing a career in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Responsible tourism initiative, Uthando South Africa, has been a long-standing supporter of our school. “Uthando, in partnership with We Are Africa, has provided sponsorship to a deserving student for one year. We are thrilled and filled with hope for her future,” comments James Fernie, Founding Director at Uthando.
The We Are Africa event, which took place in Cape Town from 15-18 May 2023, aims to transform and rebrand African travel for the global luxury market. Speaking about their support of Christel House SA, Ryan Wallace, Director and Co-founder at We Are Africa said, "Christel House really is far more than a school and is one of those special places where you see the transformation of lives, first-hand. It gives us a huge amount of hope for the future and we look forward to continuing the partnership."
Last year, We Are Africa donated trees to our school, which were used for our Junior School space. This year, the trees are being used to beautify our High School area for students and staff to enjoy. The event was a great success, with qualified horticulturists in attendance, and enthusiastic participants, ensuring that the trees were planted correctly to ensure their longevity. In addition to planting the trees and announcing the student sponsorship, event delegates engaged in friendly netball and soccer matches with the school's students, making for an unforgettable experience.
We would like to extend our gratitude to We Are Africa, Uthando South Africa, andBeyond and the tourism industry professionals who participated in the tree-planting event.