Breifne students set for Zambia
Big hearted students from Breifne College are heading off for two weeks today to do volunteering work and get an insight into the plight of people living there. Fr Jason Murphy says this will be the fourth trip by students from the college, who have collectively raised around €20,000. The trip came about as a result of a link with Sr Rita in Belturbet. This group of fifth year students will be there from May 12-28.
“We thought it would be a good idea to bring students out there and let them experience life there at first hand. It was in the middle of the Aids epidemic and there was terrible disadvantage and fierce suffering in Zambia at the time,” explained Fr Jason Murphy of the first trip.
“We decided to raise money to help alleviate some of the problems there and help the Sisters of Mercy who were working there with some of their projects – they have built schools, special needs centres and Aids Clinics away out in the bush,” he added.
Cait McGovern said a former primary teacher who visited Zambia had an influence on her decision to volunteer on this occasion. She hopes to make a difference in people’s lives there. Both herself and Shauna Delaney held a pub quiz in the Meadow View and that raised over €800. They also did a raffle and went around with sponsorship sheets.
Oisin Callaghan said he hopes to help the poor out there and see what their lifestyle is like. “I would like to thank the whole local community who helped us to fundraise,” he added.
Rachel Lynch organised a pub quiz in the Stray Sod in Drung raising over €800; while a raffle also netted a couple of hundred euro.
Max O’Dea did bag packing in SuperValu and thanked Rodney Lyons for his help. He hopes to play football with the young people out there.
Eoin Reilly also wishes to thank all the people and businesses in his area for their generosity. Magdalenn Rudden is another student volunteer. She held a fundraising raffle night in Barney Mac's in Ballinagh, where '2 Generations Band' were playing.
Jamie Cooney from Stradone said they did a table quiz in the Cross Lounge and they also made €2,000 on a raffle.
Aidan Lee from Shankhill thanked Drumalee Bingo for allowing him to fundraise at their Bingo and raise €225. Gerry Brady in the Orchard also facilitated him to run a table quiz, which raised €900. He also did bag packing.
Judge Denis McLoughlin in Cavan District also stipulated that some donations be passed onto the students' fund for Zambia. The students will also be bringing out football jerseys from Killygarry and Laragh.
They will be giving a significant donation to the Sisters of Mercy and they would like to thank many firms such as Breffni Air, McNally’s Crane Hire, APB in Clones for their contributions. The Diocese of Kilmore has also given a significant donation. Fr Jason says that approximately €20,000 has been raised and the final tally is not complete yet. The flights costs the students €1,100 each and they have had to raise that money as well through cake sales, door to door collections, raffle sales and bag packing.
Lap tops have also been donated for use in one of the local schools in Zambia. Sheila Coyle, French teacher, will be travelling out with the students as will Fr Jason Murphy.
Ms Coyle has been teaching for 44 years and will be retiring this year.
Thanks is also extended to the principal John Crotty and the deputy principal Tara Mullen for their support and encouragement.