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Globetrotting Headingley pupils cross the world to see their school friends
Most schoolchildren just pop down the road when they want to visit a friend.
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But for a particular group of Headingley youngsters, the trip is rather longer.
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Pupils from Shire Oak Primary in Headingley face a journey of 5,500 MILES when they want to catch up with their pals.
That's because their friends live on the island of Sri Lanka, off the southern coast of India.
The globe-spanning arrangement was set up with the help of the DFID Global Partnership – a British Council-backed organisation that promotes partnerships between UK schools and those abroad.
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Shire Oak has developed close links with staff and pupils at the Bishops College in Columbo.
Head teacher Mark Edwards said: "The DFID Global Partnership scheme has opened our pupils' eyes to how their lives and futures are so closely tied up with those of other young people across the world.
"In Columbo, we were able to understand more about the similarities and differences of our lives, and how we are all connected. Visiting Sri Lankan family homes and sitting in on school classes brought it all to life.
"Global issues such as poverty, climate change and injustice have been made more personal through our partnership and the students want to do more to become global citizens."
Shire Oak has had a partnership with the Sri Lankan school for the last six years.
Eleven-year-old Amy Vollans said: "It's really good having this school link, as we're all part of the same world. It makes lessons fun and we are all learning from each other.
"We're calling on other Leeds children and their parents to encourage their own schools to become part of the DFID Global Schools Partnership scheme."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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