David’s story – How Hillcrest changed my life

As a sixth-form student at Highgate Wood School in 2007, we had the opportunity to link up with the Hillcrest AIDS Centre charity and go to South Africa. The project involved decorating, teaching and outreach work in a school in the Valley of 1000 Hills. I was desperate to go on this trip and although I didn’t make the original shortlist, I joined in with every fundraising event and, when someone had to drop out, was fortunate enough to be given their place. Little did I know, this trip would change my life forever.

When we got to South Africa, Inchanga Primary School was the school we were to work in. We saw the dilapidated buildings and shortage of basic provisions and were immediately put to work decorating classrooms and teaching the amazing students. On this trip, we saw many different sides to an incredible country and we spoke to people from different walks of life in and around the area we were working in. This gave us a really well-rounded picture of the challenges the country faced and its history. There was however, so much more to learn.

Each of us was paired with a family to stay with and I cannot believe how lucky I was. The family I stayed with took me in as one of there own, and even now, they can’t get rid of me!

At the end of this trip, I was sure I was going to go back and in 2010, I raised some money for Inchanga Primary School and flew over for two, three month stays. The money raised at the event (a benefit concert) was used to help the school and, as a Musical Director and Teacher, I bought the school a piano and began to form a choir. The head teacher at the time, a great friend of mine, was amazed by the choir that I had formed and after establishing some links with other schools and venues, we had our first paid gig. The money from this concert was put back into the school and that was when ‘Sing Inchanga’ began.

Sing Inchanga has helped the area in many ways over the years. We put in a playground at Inchanga Primary School, helped to renovate buildings and to build new ones, bought essential resources and most importantly helped to teach the arts to over 13,000 children in and around the Valley of 1000 Hills. We also provide grants and work with teachers to help deliver the Arts and Culture syllabus with as much practical activity as possible. At present we work with five different schools, all of which have had close relationships with Margaret Turnbull and Hillcrest AIDS Centre.

We have also recorded an album with a wonderful boys’ choir from Inchanga and have worked with many different charities including Lionsraw who I have very close personal ties to and cannot wait to work with them again at the Steven Davison Primary School over the next few years. 

In 2019, thanks to Haringey Music Services, we took 65 young musicians on a tour of KwaZulu Natal. The trip was a huge success with my personal highlight being the children at the schools in the valley listening to a full Jazz band for the first time. I hope that the trip inspired the young people to one day come back and teach as I did.

I have been so lucky. To have had the chance to go to South Africa in the first place, to meet the amazing friends I have there, to have been “adopted” by the most incredible family and to have been able to work with the most amazing children. Although my mental health has suffered due to the harsh realties attached to the work, I would not have changed a thing.

My life has been given real purpose thanks to Margaret Turnbull and the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust. Words are not enough. I cannot wait for many more years of working alongside Hillcrest and to continue making a real difference in the Valley.