St Brigid’s Day crosses benefit African kids and local school
Hannah Kingston, Abigail O’Gorman, Nina Stojakovic, Anna Conway Whelan, Emily Carey, Willow Cahill, Emilija Rudokas and Mia McCauley Cahill 6th class pupils from Askea Girls NS present the proceeds of their St Brigid’s Cross fundraiser to Rachel Dolan Principal St Laserian's School also pictured Mary Kehoe acting Principal, June Farrell former teacher, Sheila McEvoy teacher St Laserians NS and pupils from both schools Photos: michaelorourkephotography.ie
A TERRIFIC effort from Carlow schoolchildren has reaped the benefit for children in Nairobi and closer to home.
Pupils in Holy Family GNS and Bennekerry NS were busy making St Brigid’s Day crosses in school over a number of weeks, with all their hard work raising an amazing €3,500. Of the total raised, €2,500 was donated to the Mukuru Foundation in Nairobi and €1,000 to the St Lazerian’s Walking Track fund.
Askea GNS girls also demonstrated to the congregation in Askea Church on St Brigid’s Day and at all the Sunday Masses how they made the crosses.
Catherine Nolan and Vera Smith from Graiguecullen have been travelling to work in Mukuru slums in Nairobi with Sister of Mercy nun Sr Mary Killeen for the past nine years. They work at Sr Mary’s Rehabilitation Centre for Street Boys, which currently supports 68 boys aged from four year up to 18. All monies raised go directly to the centre and are used to fund services for the boys there.
The rehab centre provides the boys with clothes, food and education. It employs two teachers, a carpentry teacher and a cook, who help to equip the boys with basic life skills.
When the boys are ready, they move into a mainstream school on a site beside the centre. The aim of the project is to rehabilitate the boys, who are then returned to family or extended family. A follow-up remains in place by the social workers and the boys attend school in their locality. They encourage them to be self-sufficient, plant vegetables and care for chickens and rabbits. They employ a former ‘street boy’ to teach them art, which is sold to visitors, and their latest project is to provide musical instruments and encourage them to play.
Holy Family GNS, Askea has been supporting this project for the last number of years by donating proceeds from the St Brigid’s Crosses. Last year’s donation helped them to renovate a room, which they named Askea GNS Room in recognition of the support that has been given by the school over the years.
The girls in Holy Family GNS were delighted to receive a video message of thanks from the boys and a photograph of the new room.
Principal of St Laserian’s School Rachel Dolan and some of the students and staff were presented with a cheque for €1,000 towards their walking track fundraiser. Holy Family GNS is delighted to be able to support this worthy local cause, too.
The making and selling of St Brigid’s Day crosses is a long-standing tradition within the school and has been led by June Farrell (retired deputy principal) even into her retirement years. The school is very grateful for Ms Farrell’s continued support.
