Purley pupils learn about seafarers

Pupils from Oakwood School, an independent school in Purley, recently had an assembly with a difference – they were taken on a voyage of discovery over the oceans. 
              The children were all ears as they listened to a talk by London-based seafarers’ charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) who introduced them to the world of ships and seafarers, who bring us up to 95% of the goods we use or consume. 
              “There are some 100,000 ships at sea crewed by more than 1.5 million seafarers – men and women who work at sea, away from their homes and families for months at a time,” said AoS Development Director John Green. 
              “We rely on them to bring us so many essential things – from food and clothes to fuel – yet little is known about their lives,” he said. 

              The pupils also learnt how AoS, through its network of port chaplains and ship visitors worldwide, supports seafarers, providing them friendship and pastoral care as well as practical things like WiFi connection and telephone cards so they can contact their families back home. 
              John said, “The pupils were really engaged and asked many questions. Huge thanks to head teacher Ciro Candia and the other teachers for their warm welcome.” 
              AoS has produced resources for schools here.