Blackfen school links with pupils in India to debate children's rights (From News Shopper)

Blackfen School for Girls works with pupils in India to discuss children's rights

8:00am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Bexley By Jim Palmer

SCHOOLGIRLS from Blackfen have linked up with children across the globe to share their views about children’s rights.

Year 9 pupils at Blackfen School for Girls in Sidcup have been web-chatting and e-mailing their counterparts at Chettinad Hari Shree Vidyalayam School in Chennai, India as part of the project Children for Children to debate issues such as child labour and teenage pregnancy.

As part of the scheme, two Blackfen teachers and a governor visited the school in Chennai, using a £2,200 grant from the British Council.

Assistant head teacher Simon Neil and Pete Pattisson enjoyed the cultural differences, such as teaching barefoot and daily yoga lessons. A return trip by staff at the Indian school is also planned.

Mr Neil said: “The entire partnership is an amazing opportunity to help students at both schools explore links between their own lives and people, places and issues throughout the world.

"We want our students to make sense of complex global issues like fair trade, and equip them to become active and responsible global citizens.”