A TEACHER leaving a Walthamstow school to do voluntary work in Africa held a celebration of culture on her last day.

Leonie Mengo teaches French at Walthamstow School for Girls in Barrett Road, but will soon be working as a education management advisor in Rwanda as part of Voluntary Service Overseas.

Ms Mengo said she wants to return to her African roots and pass on some of her knowledge learned from her years as a teacher in London and from studying a masters in Education, Development and International Development.

She said: “I will be working closely with headteachers to promote quality education in schools. I am going to learn quite a lot and hope to share some of my expertise and everything I have learnt so far.”

Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ms Mengo was raised by foster parents in France and only returned to visit her natural parents and siblings ten years ago when she was 26. She said was a life-changing experience after having been raised in a white, middle-class family.

She said: “It was about going back to my roots and culture but it was very hard seeing my family living in such poor conditions. It was a stark contrast to what I had been used to in France.”

After that she spend three years working as a teacher in Uganda and is looking forward to going back to work in Africa.

Over the last, Ms Mengo held assemblies teaching the students about VSO.

On her last day yesterday (Tuesday), students and staff were invited to go to school dressed either in their national costume or in the colours from their country's flag.

Ms Mengo said: “We are so lucky to have so many different cultures and nationalities in our school. It was like the United Colours of Bennetton advert and was a lovely celebration.”