Laurence is off to teach the Zulus

    A Whitfield man is preparing to travel to South Africa to teach Zulus.

    Laurence Woodward, 20, who was born in Dover and now lives in Nursery Lane, Whitfield has been recruited by the charity Link Africa to teach in a Zulu school, south of Durban in South Africa.

    Laurence went to Whitfield primary school and Dover Grammar School for Boys and is now in his final year at Selwyn College, Cambridge University, studying for a mathematics degree. He plans to become a teacher.

    Says Laurence: "The project in South Africa is administered by the local YMCA. I shall become a member of the staff at one school, teaching maths and physics to students for public examinations. I shall also teach classes run by the YMCA."

    He says teachers are in short supply in many township schools and many are overworked and forced to teach subjects outside their area of training, often with very few textbooks. Classes are usually very large.

    The YMCA will provide Laurence with accommodation and a small food allowance but he'll have to finance everything else, including travel to South Africa.

    Link Africa estimates the total cost of working from July to November this year to be £1,300. He has applied to his college and university for support and is hoping to raise money in the Dover area.