This spring break, our school sent two teams of students to visit our sister schools in Honduras and Sierra Leone. Upon their return, the Honduras team told stories about Andre, a curious and bright 5-year-old boy born without the ability to hear. Unfortunately, finding a school that would accept him was an arduous task, as inclusion is rare in Honduran schools. Thankfully, Andre’s family discovered Juan Calvino School, renowned for its exceptional care for each student. This small school is providing invaluable Christian inclusive education, and graduates from this elementary school have gone on to pursue higher education, becoming doctors, lawyers, and change-makers. The team was blown away by the teachers’ extraordinary generosity with their time, resources, and efforts.

Similarly, during their visit to Sierra Leone, the team witnessed a group of inspiring teachers and leaders at our sister school, Kabala Christian School (KCS). This school formed in 2007 with the support of Surrey Christian School and the Christian Reformed Church, opening its doors to students from grades 1 to 4. Fifteen years later, KCS is a model school that accommodates nearly 1,000 students and is ranked among the top three schools in the country. Local leaders also mobilized resources to establish emerging schools in rural areas of Sierra Leone benefiting another 1,500 new students. In a predominantly Muslim country where approximately 60% of the population is illiterate, these leaders recognized the urgent need for a quality Christian education and are addressing it. Our team embarked along bumpy, hot dirt roads, travelling up to six hours to visit some of these emerging schools. The communities’ hospitality and eagerness to embrace education left our team in awe.

The incredible work being done in our sister schools is a testament to God’s presence and action in the world. Our partnerships with these schools foster relationships that are truly enriching, offering both sides opportunities for growth and learning. While our Secondary students have opportunities to visit these schools, our Elementary students also learn to be global citizens through Formational Learning Experiences (FLEx). This often begins by exchanging letters, video calls, and finding creative ways to provide support through resources. We know that those who live on the margins of society have valuable lessons to offer.

The impact of our global partnerships on our students and the wider SCS community is evident through the enthusiasm displayed by elementary students as they embrace their sister-school friends. It is also apparent in Stride, the annual fundraiser, generating over $40,000 each year to support our sister schools. We witness profound learning when our students articulate their own poverty in relation to their peers in the developing world, and when they grapple with the complexities of development work and responsible global engagement. Additionally, we are inspired by our SCS alumni who continue to engage with our global partners even after graduation. Our global partnerships offer us concrete avenues to engage with God’s world in the servant way of Jesus. We are truly blessed and enriched by these relationships.