Community Links
Summer Fields is very much aware of its responsibility within the wider community on a local, national and international level. We also recognise the importance of teaching the boys social responsibility and good citizenship. Working with staff and parents, the boys are involved in a series of charitable and community projects throughout their time at Summer Fields. These initiatives take the form of formally organised programmes within the school curriculum, but are in many cases instigated by the boys themselves.
The examples below are just a few of the ways in which Summerfieldians are involved in the community:
The Womble of Summertown
The Revd Willy Pryor, an Old Summerfieldian and retired SF Master, has been leading the pack of Summertown Wombles since the 1970s. Revd Pryor (better known to his pack of Wombles as Great Uncle Bulgaria) continues to organise groups of boys to pick up litter in Summertown and help keep Oxford clean. The boys wear the official Summertown Wombles yellow tee-shirts branded with the motto: ‘KEEP OXFORD TIDY PLEASE.’ The climax of the year for Wombles is the Oxford Civic Society’s OxClean Drive, an annual citywide effort to give Oxford a spring clean.
Art For Youth Oxford
Summer Fields has hosted the Art for Youth Oxford charity exhibition in 2008 and 2009. A team of staff, boys, parents and external volunteers came together to support the National Charity, UK Youth, and local Oxford charities, Base 33 and The Art Room. These exhibitions enable promising artists to show their work, while providing art enthusiasts the chance to buy works from contemporary artists at the start of their careers. Each exhibiting artist donated 35% of their sales to the initiative. These donations were combined with ticket sales, sponsorship and revenue from the sale of ‘Mystery Pictures’ to aid these local and national charities whose work benefits our Nation’s troubled youth.
Lambo Extended Primary School
Summer Fields has enjoyed a rewarding relationship with Lambo Extended Primary School in Moshi, Tanzania since 2002. Situated in the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro, Lambo is a typical Tanzanian government school with as many as 650 pupils and only eight members of staff.
Over the past seven years, boys and staff have raised funds to finance new maths and teaching equipment; the publication of a book about saving the environment by Lambo teacher, Mr Meena; the redevelopment of the Lambo kitchens; water harvesting facilities; electricity for the school; and a laptop as well. Summer Fields Lodgeparent and teacher of science, William Austen, ran the 2007 London Marathon to raise funds to build a fence around the perimeter of Lambo’s grounds. Through their successful ascension of the three highest peaks in the UK in 2008, Summerfieldians Charles and Rupert Stevens raised money to complete the fence and to provide funds for a library at Lambo.
The relationship between Lambo Extended Primary and Summer Fields is important for both institutions, and is one we hope will continue to flourish for many years to come.
iThemba Orphanage
Summer Fields maintains a strong relationship with iThemba, a charity in South Africa that provides foster care for orphaned children whose parents have died of AIDS. Thanks to the generosity of Summer Fields families and the fundraising efforts of the boys, the 2008 Summer Fields Rugby Tour raised more than £11,000 to support the children and families of iThemba.
iThemba is the Zulu word for hope, and this charity strives to be a place for shaping future leaders by striving for continuous improvement in education, excellence in parenting, lifting the awareness of high risk behaviours, and through dedicated team work always putting the needs of the children first.
Chris Nel, iThemba’s Chief Operating Officer, inspired the entire community when he spoke in Chapel in the Michaelmas Term 2008. He recently wrote:
‘Thank you so much once again. Attached, you will find a simple spreadsheet of how we spent the money we received from Summer Fields. What a difference it has made. We are certainly enjoying the changes and growth. Please give our warmest regards and fondest thanks to everyone at Summer Fields.’