Fly to South Africa & build a school in five days.

A life-changing opportunity is available to MidKent College students studying in Construction, Plumbing, Engineering and Electrical Installation. Working with Mellon Educate (www.melloneducate.com) the charity sends a large working party to South Africa with the mission to build an entire school in five days – from the foundations and roof, right down to the bookshelves.

View details of our construction courses, plumbing courses, and engineering courses here. 

Mellon Educate have been running these annual building missions for the last fourteen years and utilise an army of volunteers under the direction of skilled tradespeople. Successful volunteers are allocated a foreman and are given specific tasks to complete each day. As a number of the volunteers are students, this experience provides valuable work experience, expands their knowledge base and accelerates practical enhancement of their skills and is ultimately a very worthy addition to their CV.

Volunteers are between 16-82 years of age and from an eclectic range of backgrounds. The usual cost of taking part in such a great opportunity is £4000 per person. However, local businessman Mark Lindop is very kindly offering sponsorship of two MidKent College students to take part. The trip is 10-17 November 2017 and flights, accommodation and daytime subsistence is provided. The successful students will be required to self-fund their evening meal and of course, any spending money. Students will visit Cape Town and Table Mountain as part of their adventure to South Africa.

To be considered as a possible participant* in this chance of a lifetime, students need to be studying in Construction and Engineering, and are required to write 200 words about why they would like to be considered and deserve one of the two sponsored places. If an applicant would like any help, guidance or ideas, please contact your personal development tutor or subject tutor. To apply, simply go to http://bit.ly/2jXylxv.

The deadline is 27 February 2017. Shortlisted finalists will be invited to be interviewed by a panel of judges including Darran Marks, MidKent College Head of Department for Electrical Installation and our generous sponsor, Mark Lindop. The two successful students will be selected by 9 March.

*The competition is open to MKC Construction, Plumbing, Engineering and Electrical students – Entrants must be in full-time course or apprenticeship attendance. In addition, it is essential that all entrants inform their parents/guardians of their intention to enter the competition. Our sponsor, Mark Lindop, is happy for students to email him directly if they have questions regarding the trip (mark_lindop@hotmail.com).