St Rupert's and St John's Beaumont

“Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow.
Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead.
Just walk beside me and be my friend.”

Albert Camus

The above quote highlights the aim of the Companions’ Programme in linking children across the globe. These children may come from different backgrounds but they are connected by a Jesuit ethos which underpins all their operations.

St John’s Beaumont School, just outside Windsor, England is linked to St Rupert’s School which lies North West of Harare, Zimbabwe. Below is a brief history of each school, after which follows information about their link came into being and events since then.

St. John’s Beaumont

The plans for St. John’s Beaumont were drawn up by the famous architect, J F Bentley, who later went on to design Westminster Cathedral. The school was purpose-built, originally for sixty boarders, and was opened in 1888. Its name is taken from St John Berchmans, a young Jesuit who was canonised in that year. St John Berchmans (1599-1621) was born in Diest in Belgium and was only 22 years old when he died. He had a deeply loving nature with excellent intellectual gifts and was much respected by his fellow Jesuits. During his short life, he was known for his great love of God, charity to his neighbours, willingness, generosity and cheerfulness.

St Rupert’s Primary School

St.Rupert’s was built in 1962, under the supervision of the Catholic Church. It lies in the heart of infertile lands and the people of St Rupert’s mission live a hard and challenging life. Tragically, their troubles have been exacerbated by the devastation of the HIV/AIDS pandemic which has affected the entire community, either directly or indirectly. St. Rupert’s does, however, offer its pupils an island of opportunity in this remote part of the country where even the most basic commodities are hard to come by.

The Companions’ Programme: June 2006

In November 2005, Father Karl Hermann, St. Rupert’s Chaplain, visited St. John’s Beaumont. This visit set the ball rolling as it allowed St. John’s Beaumont to meet their companion school, St. Rupert’s.

Since then, St. John’s Beaumont has been actively involved raising money and praying for St. Rupert’s. St. Rupert’s do not have the wherewithal to reciprocate financially but they are equally involved – sending photographs and the headmaster, Mr. Suruvai, has sent detailed reports updating what has been happening in the school.

At the beginning of June, when I went to visit St. John’s Beaumont, I met the people involved in this programme: two teachers, Andrew Rex and Jenny Dickie, as well as group of Year 8 pupils called “The Young Entrepreneurs” who have spearheaded fundraising activities.

The day before my visit the school had a rock concert to raise money and awareness for St. Rupert’s. The Young Entrepreneurs organised the event which included numerous activities such as setting up the stage and the printing of tickets and t-shirts emblazoned with “Rock for Ruperts” in the colours of Zimbabwe’s flag. Then, as the young rock stars were wowing the audience with their talents, a slide show of St. Rupert’s (created by one of the Year 8 boys) was projected on to a large screen to the right of the stage, reminding the pupils of their companions in Zimbabwe.

Prior to this concert £ 3 500 had been raised. This money was raised through cake sales, the tuck shop and money donated by Mrs Gogarty.
This money has facilitated the purchasing of Mathematics, English and Science textbooks. These textbooks are invaluable and will make a difference to the lives of the pupils at St. Rupert’s. Mr Suruvai, the headmaster said, “I am happy, as the head of the school, to see my teachers and children holding textbooks as they do their lessons. I have now Grade 1 to 7 classes enjoying their lessons much more than before.” Money was also used to buy new school uniforms for the choir, twenty desks, fifteen benches and tables for a planned computer room and paint.

While I was at St. John’s Beaumont I spoke to three groups of pupils. I told them a bit about Zimbabwe and about how the money that they raised has been used. All were interested: the younger children audibly gasped with delight when they saw St. Rupert’s new school uniforms and the older children asked extremely astute questions such as, “Why is there inflation?”

Andrew Rex is going out to visit St. Rupert’s for two weeks in July where there will be further exchange of information and dialogue which will enable the two schools to learn more about each other.