Students Set for African Adventures Experience in Kenya
09 February 2026
Fourteen students from NSCG’s Newcastle and Stafford Colleges will be travelling to Kenya this June as part of African Adventures, a volunteering programme that supports 34 schools across developing areas of Ghana, Kenya and Zanzibar.
Learners from a wide range of curriculum areas including Early Years and Education, Health and Social Care, Uniformed Protective Services, Catering and Hospitality, Business, Art and IT are currently preparing for the once-in-a-lifetime eight-night trip.
The group will fly into Nairobi before travelling on to Nakuru, Kenya’s fourth largest city. During their stay, students will spend three days volunteering within the local community, supporting schools and taking part in dedicated outreach activities.
Alongside their volunteering work, students will experience a dedicated ‘Taste of Kenya’ cultural day, which will see them take part in a Swahili lesson, a traditional cookery session and a visit to one of Kenya’s most remarkable geographical landmarks, the Menengai Crater.
To round off the trip, the group will also take part in a Nairobi Wildlife Day, set in the world’s only city-based national park. The visit will include a stop at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT), an orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation programme, followed by a game drive where they will have the chance to spot wildlife including black rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, buffalo and giraffes.
In preparation for their adventure, students recently came together at Gradbach Mill for a day of team-building and ice-breaker activities, led by Zoe Arrowsmith, Curriculum Manager for Early Years and Health and Social Care.
They also took part in sessions focused on planning and delivering sports coaching and learning activities, skills they will use while working in a Kenyan primary school. The training was delivered by Alex Brown, Curriculum Manager for Sport and Public Services, and concluded with a Swahili language lesson led by Health and Social Care lecturer, David Watt.
Mark Kent, Director of Professional Studies at NSCG, said: “This is another brilliant example of NSCG affording students from various courses and college sites to have an incredible experience that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. The trip itself which is scheduled for the end of June will showcase the transformative impact that education can have, even in environments such as the school we shall be volunteering in and where resources are limited.”