A former student from Hamilton Lodge in Brighton has taken gifts to deaf school children in Ethiopia.
Nicholas Ansell, now a carer at Hamilton Lodge Deaf School, in Walpole Road, Brighton, visited two schools for deaf children during a recent stay in Ethiopia.
The gifts he took to were donated by fellow staff and students at Hamilton Lodge. They included pens, pencils and sports equipment.
He went to Nekemte Deaf School in the west of Ethiopia. Hamilton Lodge has been linked to the school for more than 15 years and has raised more than £3,000 for it.
Mr Ansell met Jenny Merritt, a former Hamilton Lodge teacher, while he was there.
She has spent 14 years teaching at the school.
Mr Ansell also visited Viktory Deaf School in the capital Addis Adaba.
He said: “It really hit me how happy the children were and how keen they were to come to school and learn.
“I really enjoyed teaching all the children.”
Hamilton Lodge head teacher Graham Sheppard said: “Our ongoing links with the Nekemte Deaf School in Ethiopia are really important to us.
“Every Christmas we collect useful items for the Ethiopian deaf students and raise money at our Christmas play.
“It was lovely that this year Nicholas was able to deliver the gifts personally.
“One of the skills he was able to share was teaching tennis.
“He is a member of the British deaf tennis team and it was great that he was able to share his passion for the sport with the Ethiopian students.
“Getting a greater understanding of what life is like for deaf children in Ethiopia is an important addition to our students’ education and development.”
He has made a video about his visit in British sign language and with subtitles.
It was produced in partnership with the Crew Club in Whitehawk and can be viewed on Youtube on the Hamilton Brighton Channel.
