Cheapflights is BOTH’s key partner and its staff have fundraised the costs required to fly the students over for the exchange. BOTH is an educational charity, based in London which facilitates an exchange programme between South Africa and London, whereby students are given the opportunity of a lifetime to experience a different culture. The monetary funding from Cheapflights goes towards flights, accommodation, and activities for the trip.

“BOTH is an innovative, exciting charity founded on the belief that young people learn best from each other and can, and should, make a difference to each other’s lives and to the future. We aim to support schools in developed and developing countries by funding and organising exchange visits with partner schools so that students can share similarities and learn from their differences,” says Linda Quinn, one of the founders of BOTH.

Andrew Shelton, managing director of Cheapflights says, “Here at Cheapflights, we’re passionate about the transformative power that travel can have over a young person’s life. Our company believes that an open world is a better world, and if from this trip, the girls are able to learn that there is more that unites than divides them from their peers in London, and it instils in them a desire to search out new ways to broaden their horizons through travel in the future - then we will be very happy. We’re proud to contribute to such a fascinating opportunity for both sets of students, and our team has enjoyed every moment of fundraising over R350 000 to make it happen.” 

“I am very excited to be going on a plane for the first time and to learn about a new culture. I am also looking forward to teaching the people there about the South African culture that I come from. I am nervous to go overseas for the first time but also excited to be doing something new,” says Chwayita Zethu Mkontwana, a 17-year old student from Ntafufu Senior Secondary School.

The students will be joined by two teachers at the school, who will also be seeing London for the first time.

For more information, visit www.cheapflights.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.