With the objectives of strengthening and promoting the use of the English language, enriching the intercultural perspective of our students, learning about other places in the world, and adhering to the guidelines of the Institute by fostering the experience of Marcellin’s charism far beyond our country as a Global Marist Family, this Friday marked the beginning of a new cycle of the Marist Student Internationalisation Project 2025 in South Africa.
Two groups of Marist students from Chile, accompanied by teachers, travelled to Johannesburg and a third group to Durban, 16 students in total, to live this experience, which will last four weeks, returning to Chile on 19 June. During their stay, the students will be hosted by families from the host schools and will participate in classes and all activities at those institutions.
The first group of eleven students arrived last Saturday in Johannesburg, where they were welcomed by representatives from St. David’s Marist Inanda (6) and Marist Brothers Linmeyer (5) schools. The group of five students from the Marist Colleges of Los Andes, Quillota IRA and Curicó who travelled to Durban were warmly welcomed at the airport by representatives of St. Henry’s Marist College, who carried a sign that read ‘Welcome, Marist friends to Durban. We are very pleased to welcome you!’
On Monday, 19 May, the Chilean Marists participated in their first day of classes in South Africa, where they were warmly welcomed and integrated by their new classmates.
It is important to note that the students participating in this wonderful project will be required to develop and present a report upon their return, in accordance with the curriculum, which includes activities before, during, and after the experience. This report will cover several subjects and will be graded in all of them, replacing the academic responsibilities scheduled for the same dates in Chile.
It should be noted that this initiative considers welcoming Marist students from South Africa to our country in the future, forming a lasting bond between our educational communities, which allows us to continue walking together as a Global Marist Family.
If you would like to learn more about internationalisation experiences or contact a school to organise an activity or exchange, join our AGORÁ group
Joaquín Meli – Communications Officer, Province of Santa Maria de los Andes