_{Dan Oldroyd and Jay Grimmer, who left Norwich School in 2018 recently returned from South America where they were volunteering and travelling during their gap year. While they were there they took time to visit La Casita de Maria de la Esperanza the daycare centre supported by Norwich School that opened in March, 2007 in the Buenos Aires suburb of Escobar. La Casita helps more than seventy young children and adolescents who live in extremely underprivileged conditions. The centre is coordinated by Rodrigo Cuevas and his mother with help from many volunteers.}

_{We were based in Buenos Aires for the first month as we were volunteering, coaching rugby to underprivileged children in the city. We decided that since we were so close we would go to find La Casita to find out more about it, see where the money we had raised during or time at Norwich School went and to meet the volunteers. We also had some bits of sports kit that we would not be using so took that along. We had the best day, we arrived and Rodrigo and his mother made us feel so welcome. We got a tour the of centre and went to see where most of our money was used, at the daycare centre for the youngest children at La Casita. Our money was used to build the kitchen and the bathrooms. We made ourselves useful, helping out in the morning and then went for lunch with Rodrigo and his mum. After lunch we visited the homes of those who go to ‘la Casita’. It was a real eye opener to see the conditions that some of these people lived in and to see how much La Casita does for them. Rodrigo and his mother are fantastic people who do so much for their community and it was truly amazing to see what they’ve done.}

 _{It is great that the money raised from Bandfest this year will be going to La Casita again this year – seeing for ourselves how the money is used to help underprivileged children in one of the poorest communities in Buenos Aires was an amazing experience.}

_{Bandfest will take place on Saturday 29th June at 7.00pm in the Blake Studio. Tickets are £4 in advance and £5 on the door. Plase follw this link to get your tickets .} https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/norwich-school