A group of students and teachers from Callan’s Coláiste Abhainn Rí are all set to travel to Kenya over their Easter break.They will be undertaking the journey as part of their Kenya Immersion Project where they will learn about the culture while delivering the proceeds of their fundraising to a local project. The Callan group will also be bringing almost 700 sports jerseys with them to share among the students of the Edmund Rice Catholic Education Centre students, in Embulbul, Kenya. The jerseys were collected in the local community in recent months and are just part of a major fundraising campaign run by the students. Five teachers will accompany the 15 students, five boys and 10 girls on the trip that has been almost a year in the preparation. As Transition Year students, last year, the students applied for the Immersion Programme. They were chosen before the end of the school year and fundraising began almost immediately. Each of the students had to organise individual fundraising as well as group events. From carwashes to bake sales, table quizzes and non-uniform days, and even busking outside the Tholsel in Kilkenny City, the group have been hard at work and have raised almost €38,000.placeholder image
A group of students and teachers from Callan’s Coláiste Abhainn Rí are all set to travel to Kenya over their Easter break.They will be undertaking the journey as part of their Kenya Immersion Project where they will learn about the culture while delivering the proceeds of their fundraising to a local project. The Callan group will also be bringing almost 700 sports jerseys with them to share among the students of the Edmund Rice Catholic Education Centre students, in Embulbul, Kenya. The jerseys were collected in the local community in recent months and are just part of a major fundraising campaign run by the students. Five teachers will accompany the 15 students, five boys and 10 girls on the trip that has been almost a year in the preparation. As Transition Year students, last year, the students applied for the Immersion Programme. They were chosen before the end of the school year and fundraising began almost immediately. Each of the students had to organise individual fundraising as well as group events. From carwashes to bake sales, table quizzes and non-uniform days, and even busking outside the Tholsel in Kilkenny City, the group have been hard at work and have raised almost €38,000.

Callan students head for Kenya to bring hope - and 700 sports jerseys!

Sian Moloughney
By Sian Moloughney

Reporter

Published 22nd Mar 2024, 18:00 GMT

Coláiste Abhainn Rí students touched down in the African country this week

Justin Dermody, Lorraine O'Shea, Martina Griffin, Sarah McCarthy and Cian Ryan.PICTURE: HARRY REID The project is not a ‘holiday’ for the students, but is about their personal development. They take on a lot of responsibility and experience personal growth and skills development. Links between the schools in Callan and Embulbul were first forged in 2017 when school trustees ERST put the local school in touch with the school in Kenya. Last year the Coláiste got in touch with the school principal in Embulbul to organise another trip. Passports, visas and vaccinations have been confirmed and the students will fly out on March 30 to stay in the Embulbul area for a week. They will be based at the school but will also visit different centres and projects around the area with the aim of immersing themselves fully in the local culture. While there they will consult with the local school staff on what project is best to benefit from the money raised. The Kenyan school largely depends on donations and they will be looking at sustainable projects, like a water project. The Kilkenny school hopes to leave a lasting legacy. Thanks to all who sponsored the project, for their generosity and support: H and MV engineering, Cleere Sports, AIB, SuperValu Callan, Callan Co-op, Eamonn Maher Transport, The Edge Hair Studio, Grace Solicitors and Abbey Interiors.

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Justin Dermody, Lorraine O'Shea, Martina Griffin, Sarah McCarthy and Cian Ryan.PICTURE: HARRY REID The project is not a ‘holiday’ for the students, but is about their personal development. They take on a lot of responsibility and experience personal growth and skills development. Links between the schools in Callan and Embulbul were first forged in 2017 when school trustees ERST put the local school in touch with the school in Kenya. Last year the Coláiste got in touch with the school principal in Embulbul to organise another trip. Passports, visas and vaccinations have been confirmed and the students will fly out on March 30 to stay in the Embulbul area for a week. They will be based at the school but will also visit different centres and projects around the area with the aim of immersing themselves fully in the local culture. While there they will consult with the local school staff on what project is best to benefit from the money raised. The Kenyan school largely depends on donations and they will be looking at sustainable projects, like a water project. The Kilkenny school hopes to leave a lasting legacy. Thanks to all who sponsored the project, for their generosity and support: H and MV engineering, Cleere Sports, AIB, SuperValu Callan, Callan Co-op, Eamonn Maher Transport, The Edge Hair Studio, Grace Solicitors and Abbey Interiors.

Erin and Brigid Kennedy, Bernadette Kenny, Aisling and Donncha Ó’Sullivan PICTURES: HARRY REID

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Erin and Brigid Kennedy, Bernadette Kenny, Aisling and Donncha Ó’Sullivan PICTURES: HARRY REID

Emer, Dermot, Joe and Mary O'Shea.PICTURE: HARRY REID

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Emer, Dermot, Joe and Mary O'Shea.PICTURE: HARRY REID

The Saunders, Lynch, Kehoe, Marnell, White and Walsh families

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The Saunders, Lynch, Kehoe, Marnell, White and Walsh families

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