Bishop Emmanuel shares stories of Tanzania with Clearwater Academy pupils

Bishop Emmanuel Bwatta, from the Diocese of Western Tanganyika, Tanzania, visited Clearwater Academy to find out about the school and meet the children and staff.

Clearwater Academy is linked with Kasulu Primary School in the Diocese of Western Tanganyika, which is partnered with Diocese of Gloucester. The Rt Revd Emmanuel Bwatta is in the UK to visit the city and went to the school to meet the staff and pupils with whom his Diocese is connected. Throughout the year, the pupils and staff of both schools have exchanged letters, sharing their news and seeing how each other learn.

Kate Moss, Headteacher at Clearwater, says, “It was wonderful to host Bishop Emmanuel and show him around the school. The Bishop visited every class and talked about life in Tanzania illustrated with photos he brought with him. Our Year 5 pupils gave a presentation about British values while our Year 6 pupils gave a presentation on the Clearwater school values.”

The school’s Worship Team led collective worship with the choir and then Bishop Emmanuel was treated to a school dinner from the canteen. At the end of his visit, Bishop Emmanuel gifted the school a painting of giraffes and zebras, the animals he had talked about with the children. The school gifted him a Clearwater teddy bear.

Kate says, “The children were able to learn first hand about life in a different part of the world. They asked questions and noted both similarities and differences in our schools and way of life. They reflected on life in Britain, the opportunities we have and the values we live by. The children were delighted to meet Bishop Emmanuel and hear that he himself had attended Kasulu Primary School, and this has made the partnership come alive for them.”