BHS Students Help Build School In South Africa
Four Bermuda High School [BHS] students – Emilia Dunkerley, Sage Benevides, Gabrielle Smith, and Theresa Briere – spent part of their summer in South Africa, helping to build a school through the 2025 Round Square International Service Project.
A spokesperson said, “This July, four BHS students had the opportunity of a lifetime, volunteering part of their summer to build a kindergarten in the North West Province of South Africa.
“Year 13 students Emilia Dunkerley, Sage Benevides, Gabrielle Smith, and Theresa Briere were selected from a pool of applicants for the 2025 Round Square International Service Project. The girls were eligible to apply as students at a Round Square school, each completing the application process, which included personal references from Mrs Shirley Kelly, BHS Round Square Coordinator.”
Mrs. Kelly said, “As the only Round Square school in Bermuda, BHS provides so many opportunities for young people to connect with like-minded people across the world to make a real-world impact. These service trips are unparalleled in not only creating lifelong friendships but also in providing impactful service that continues to connect communities long after the trip.
“I am unspeakably proud of these four for taking that opportunity.”
The spokesperson said, “The trip, which lasted 13 days, took the 17-year-olds to the town of Vryburg, where they worked alongside a large group of volunteers aged 15-19 to build a permanent kindergarten facility, creating a safe and sustainable space for learning. While the building frame had been erected before their arrival, Emilia, Sage, Gabrielle, and Theresa played an important role in the construction process, undertaking projects such as laying the floor, plastering, mixing concrete, building bookshelves, working on plumbing projects, constructing chicken and rabbit coops, and even delving into gardening.”
Sage Benevides said, “It was hard work, but a lot of fun. It was amazing to see that something I consider small could have such a significant impact. When we went to the tribal council meeting at the start of our trip, the leaders of the township were so grateful that we were there to help.”
Gabrielle Smith said, “I didn’t know that so many people our age were willing to do things like this. It brought me a new perspective; you can find people who are similar to you, no matter where you go.”
Theresa Briere said, “We met so many people from so many different countries in one place in one town. It really showed me that everyone can help anywhere they want.
“South Africa has a deep history of using politics to regulate who education is accessible to. Building a school that is accessible to everyone felt very powerful.”
The spokesperson said, “Once the construction of the kindergarten was completed, the exterior of the building was decorated with numerous murals, including paintings of animals, letters, shapes, the solar system, plants, and a welcome mural that featured the word ‘welcome’ in the languages of the 17 delegate countries.”
Emilia Dunkerley said, “Part of the goal of the Township was to bring joy to the kindergarten through colour. On the second-to-last day, they brought in the play equipment, and a bunch of the local children showed up to play. It was so cute watching them use the equipment and interact with the murals.”
Gabrielle Smith said, “Seeing how happy the kids were, and how appreciative the town was, opened my understanding of the world and gave me an appreciation of everything while allowing me to meet people from all over the world.”
The spokesperson said, “For Emilia, Sage, Gabrielle, and Theresa, this trip was a life-changing experience. Not only did they have the opportunity to explore a new country and culture, but they also gained valuable insights about themselves. For Sage, it solidified a career choice involving children; for Theresa, it was an opportunity to witness firsthand the impact of politics, a field she’s very interested in. Emilia discovered the freedom of travel and exploration, while Gabrielle enjoyed her continued passion for service projects in developing nations.”
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