South African Students Visit Malibu

 is hosting two South African students and a teacher from the Devon Valley Primary School, which is located near Cape Town. CCW and Devon Valley have a sister school relationship. CCW first made contact with the staff at Devon Valley in October 2006.

The visitors arrived on Friday, and will remain in Southern California until Jan. 29. They are seventh-graders Arid Meyer and Anuschka Van Neikerk and teacher Reginald Newman. The Devon Valley School Board selected the girls based on their academic achievements, good character, desire to travel and command of the English language (their first language is Afrikaans).

Devon Valley started in a barn in 1942, later moving to a church hall. The current school building was built in 1984. It is located in the wine region, and 95 percent of the parents are farm laborers, "very poor, but very proud." The school serves approximately 216 children in grades K-7, with eight "educators."

The principal teaches fourth grade (full-time) and has administrative responsibilities. Some "educators" have more than 40 "learners" in their classes. The children live mostly on the farms in the area and typically walk to school on a very dangerous road. CCW helped with this situation in 2008 by purchasing a van with the help of local missionary groups.

There is much to learn about the lives and ambitions of these children, families and educators.

The students and teacher visiting Southern California will be required to present a report of their visit to the school board, the staff and students upon their return to South Africa.

The itinerary includes visits to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Olivera Street, Chinatown, Leo Politi School in Los Angeles, Huntington Gardens, Venice Beach, Malibu's local beaches, schools, churches and more.

Money collected at  is supporting this trip.

Shari Latta is the director of the Children's Creative Workshop.