24^th March, 2005

 

To Whom It May Concern:

 

Re: Leopold Primary School, Harlesden, London / Belle Higher Primary School Soweto, South Africa.

 

I have been the Member of Parliament for Brent South for eighteen years and know well the work of Leopold Primary School in my constituency.

 

Leopold is an excellent school, with a good track record of academic success and charitable activity. This is not least due to the leadership of the Head Teacher Mrs Kendall and the efforts of teachers such as Ms Cheltenham and to people such as Ms Meredith, all of whom are closely involved in the links that have been forged between the school and Belle Higher Primary in Soweto, South Africa. Early in 2004 I visited the school in order to celebrate these links. I was delighted to hear more about the relationship that had been established between these schools and the information, ideas and friendship that was being shared across continents by both pupils and teachers alike.

 

Leopold are committed to using their unique status as a ‘sister school’ to help improve the conditions and curricular potential for Belle School and its pupils. They aim to do so through corporate fundraising, as well as exchange events for staff and pupils. Furthermore they aim to empower the community at large that surrounds and uses Belle, by providing ICT and other facilities for further education and skills training in that part of Soweto. This would be mirrored by their ambitious plans for establishing adult education and ICT facilities at Leopold for local residents and parents.

 

This is an exciting and innovative project and one that has my wholehearted support. I understand that the South African High Commissioner in London has demonstrated her full backing for this initiative and it is my intention too to support Belle and Leopold’s link in whatever way I can in my future role as Britain’s next High Commissioner to South Africa.

 

Yours sincerely,

Rt. Hon. Paul Boateng MP