We are eager to set up links with UK primary schools to share the learning experiences.  So much can be learnt by building new friends in far off places.

I have detailed below DFID's thoughts on working with schools abroad. I hope it is of some interest and that you will consider a school in Babati to work with.

Introduction

Two secondary school pupils from the UK went to visit schools in Mozambique and had their eyes opened to the challenge that pupils there face. 4200 pupils and only 22 classrooms. Pupils there receive education for only 3 hours a day in separate shifts that change times each day and if it gets dark early there is no light to teach by. But when asked about their ambitions, they wanted to do all that children here in Britain want - to be engineers, doctors, architects, scientists, teachers, and nurses.

Building links between schools here and Africa and the developing world helps young people to understand the differences as well as the similarities between their lives. School partnerships help us understand the challenges that we all face and how we can work together to overcome them. Through school links, UK pupils will learn just how limited the provision of education is in so many countries and discover that across the world almost 80 million children - most of them girls - don't go to school, today or any day. And many more go to schools many miles from their home, without enough textbooks, teachers and even simple things like toilets or classrooms.

Partnerships between schools help children to exchange ideas, understand different cultures and develop a rewarding relationship based on mutual trust and respect. They can open children's eyes, and help them to be good global citizens in today's changing world.

Modern technology means that the everyday, humdrum decisions we make as individuals can make a difference to the lives of our neighbours thousands of miles away. Our energy choices can influence rainfall patterns or sea levels on another continent. Our consumer choices may dictate what a poor family earns - and whether they can send their children to school or afford health-care. When we face challenges in this ‘interdependent' world we have to solve them together. Which means we have to understand each other - to know each other better - and we need the skills and techniques to build trust and establish equal relationships. Well-planned school partnerships can help children from scores of countries learn more about the rich diversity of our global community. Many exciting partnerships between schools in the developed and developing countries already exist.

It's one thing to google ‘Nelson Mandela' but it's quite another to talk to children in South Africa about what Mandela means to them. It's vital to study the changes that have fostered economic growth in China, but another layer of insight comes with spending a week with students in Beijing. School partnerships help students understand the world beyond their shores - through accessing the experience of other children who are living in different cultures and traditions. When children work together on shared curricula - online or through letters, photographs, art or even exchange visits - they can begin to question their assumptions about life - both ‘over here' and ‘over there'. It works both ways and ensures that children from both developed and developing countries can broaden their perspectives and widen their horizons. Such ‘local-global learning' is a tremendous asset in developing understanding, skills, attitudes and participation that is relevant to a changing, interconnected world. The idea of introducing this learning into the school curriculum brings a wealth of opportunities for classroom activities and whole school projects.

Creating worthwhile educational experiences from school partnerships requires thought, creativity, sensitivity and discussion on the part of educators - both in the UK and in the linked school. Of course, none of the benefits are automatic, and they are unlikely to be achieved through an occasional assembly or fundraising event ‘for' the linked school. But a strong partnership can result in enthused pupils and teachers and an enriched curriculum and school ethos.

Benefits for children

Good school partnership programmes encourage learners to develop the skills and attitudes they need to become responsible citizens by developing understanding of international as well as local issues. By emphasising the genuine two-way exchange of knowledge and experience through the partners' participation, each benefits from the practice of working and learning together.

Benefits for staff

By exposing staff to very different learning contexts, the partnerships enrich teachers' professional expertise. And teachers are not the only adults to benefit. All sorts of people can get involved, including support staff, head teachers, parents and governors. The more people who become engaged, the more effectively the idea of global partnership can become part of the educational ethos of learning.

Benefits for schools

There is increasing evidence to show that UK schools who engage with a ‘global dimension' - for example, discussing issues such as diversity, human rights and conflict resolution - enjoy the benefits across all curriculum subjects, and notice improvements in daily life throughout the school.

Ask yourselves these questions:

Motivation

What are your reasons for wanting a partnership?

Do you have a vision?

What do you hope to achieve, in practical terms?

How will your partnership enhance the goals of your school?

Involvement

How can you involve as many staff in your school as possible?

How will learners contribute to the partnership as it evolves?

What opportunities exist in your local communities for involvement in partnerships?

Have you got the support of your Senior Management Team? How can you get them on board?

Resourcing

Does your school have the capacity to enter a partnership at this time?

Are you prepared for any additional resourcing needs/costs the school may incur?

Can you identify sources of support and expertise in your local community?

Your partner school

Where in the world might you look for a partner school?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of different options?

What might be the expectations and motivations of your partner school?

How can you ensure that your partner school also gains educational benefits from your partnership?

Get advice

Whether you are involved in an established partnership or looking for a partner school there's a wealth of development education expertise to call on - providing advice and guidance on the best way forward.

Access funding - there are grants available for schools both in the early stages of partnerships and those whose partnerships are more established.

Get training - there are workshops and training courses for teaching staff.

Get expert advice - from Global Educators with experience of living and working around the world who will visit your school. You can get sound guidance and support - from an Introductory Workshop to get you thinking about what type of partnership you want to specific ideas for activities to undertake in the early stages of a new link.

There are a number of options to help you find a suitable partner school, or additional support and funding if you are already involved in an established partnership. These contacts provide a starting point for you to begin to explore.

How can we find a partner school?

www.dfid.gov.uk/funding/globalschools.asp

DFID Global School Partnerships promotes partnerships between schools in the UK and schools in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America. The programme provides advice and guidance, professional development opportunities and grants to schools that are using partnerships as a way of developing a global dimension to their curriculum.

www.globalgateway.org.uk

The Global Gateway includes a database of schools interested in establishing school partnerships. You can also register a profile of your school on this site, so that other schools can search for your details.

www.bbc.co.uk/worldclass/twinning_map

Will help you find out if other schools in your area already have a partner school or to find out more about other organisations involved in school partnerships.

How can we develop a partnership and build a global dimension into our curriculum?

www.globaldimension.org

Global Dimension is a DFID funded on-line guide to teaching resources - books, videos, posters and websites. From climate change to poverty, water to fair trade, you can find resources for all age groups and subjects. Follow the link to the ‘Global Dimension Community' to find your nearest Development Education Centre, learn about professional development opportunities, read ideas and lesson plans from other teachers, learn more about school linking and find groups that offer speaker services.

www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/dev-global-dim.pdf

Developing the Global Dimension in the School

Curriculum - this key publication will help place the school curriculum within a broader, global context, and shows how all subjects can incorporate a global dimension.

www.mundi.org.uk/learning-resources/page4.html

A Good Practice Guide to Whole School Linking

(£25.00) This publication is the result of a school-linking project carried out by MUNDI Development Education Centre in Nottingham. Funded by DFID, it contains practical suggestions of issues to consider and of educational uses to make from international school partnerships.

www.build-online.org.uk

www.ukowla.org.uk

Building Understanding through Links for Development and the UK One World Linking

Association offers general information about involving the community in your school partnership and a comprehensive Toolkit.

www.dea.org.uk

The Development Education Association is a national network of around 250 member organisations that share a commitment to development education and may prove useful in your search.

www.cewc.org/aspnet

UNESCO Associated Schools Project. Ideas and support for theme based school linking on sustainable development, intercultural learning, peace, human rights and democracy, world concerns and the role of the UN.

What funding for school partnerships is available?

www.dfid.gov.uk/funding/globalschools.asp

The DFID Global School Partnerships programme has a grants programme that provides schools with the opportunity to develop their partnerships through reciprocal visits and curriculum development activity. www.britishcouncil.org/globalschools

and www.britishcouncil.org/globalschools-grantssupport.htm

The British Council manages a range of programmes that will help you and your partner school to develop a lasting and successful relationship.

School links provide pupils with new horizons and new opportunities. But many children do not have even the opportunity to go to school. The UK Government is committed to ensuring that all children, everywhere, have that chance in life.

Education is vital in the fight against extreme poverty in developing countries. Education enables people to fulfill their potential and helps combat the spread of diseases such as HIV and AIDS. Girls' education also helps to reduce the rate of child mortality and to improve the nutrition and prospects of future generations. Yet every day almost 80 million primary school aged children are denied an education. There has been some progress on getting children into school but not enough to ensure that all children, irrespective of their birth, have the opportunity to complete primary school education by 2015.

http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/world-classroom.pdf