Portmarnock  Community  School    

and    Friends  in  Ireland  

 2007-‐2011  

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 Marian  Finucane  -‐  Friends  in  Ireland.                                            May  2011.                                                                                                        I  would  like  to  take  this  opportunity   to  thank  you  all   for  your  great  contribution,  past   and   present,   to   our   Charity   –   Friends   in   Ireland   and   to   the   children   of   the  Eastern  Cape.  Truly,   Portmarnock   Community   School   is   a   community   far   and   above   any   other  community   school   I   am  aware   of,   for  many   reasons:   you,   the   students,   for   your  dedication  and  enthusiasm  for  the  projects  in  South  Africa  and  the  way  in  which  you  have  saved  and  dedicated  your  free  time  to  this  activity.  Thank  you  very  very  much.  Equally,  I  would  like  to  thank  all  the  teachers,  past  and  present  for  the  assistance,  which  they  have  given  both  you  and  the  Charity,  in  helping  to  improve  the  lives  of  children   in   the   Eastern  Cape.   I   would,   at   this   point,   just   have   to   single   out   Niall  Fitzgerald,  who  over  the  last  number  of  years  has  worked  tirelessly  and  endlessly  for  all  of  us,  to  undertake  some  great  projects.  I  would  also  like  to  thank  (and  I  am  sure   you   will   agree   with   me),   all   the   parents   and   the   people   of   Portmarnock,  Malahide,  Swords  and  Donabate  who  have  supported  you,  both  financially  and  in  the  giving  of  their  time,  to  make  your  event  possible.  Our  very  special  thanks  also,  to  all  of  the  committees  who  we  know  worked  all   hours  and  also  came  to  Africa  with  us.  If  you  think  about  it,  all  the  people,   teachers,  students,  residents  of  Portmarnock  and  surrounds  have  truly  brought  the  idea  of  community  in  a  Community  School  to  an  all-‐time  high.    I  believe  possibly  the  first  I  know  about  in  Ireland.  It  is  a  credit  to  you  all  and  hopefully  an  inspiration  to  other  Community  Schools.  As   a   charity  working   in   a  children’s   crisis   in   South  Africa,   I   hope  all   the   students  will   stay   in   touch   with   us.     We   would   very   much   like   if   your   dedicational  commitment  now,  will  be  carried  on,  into  the  future.    

Construction  

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The  construction  programme  undertaken  has  achieved   incredible  results   with   5   crèches,   12   foster   homes,   5   feeding   centres,   a  sanitation  block  and  early  learning  centre  now  complete.  Each   year   a   team   of   very   talented   team   construction   workers  worked   tirelessly   throughout   Kwazula   Natal   and   Eastern   Cape  travelling  up  to  four  hours  a  day  to  reach  sites  in  remote  areas  of  the  Drakensberg  Mountains  and  secluded  villages  such  as  Makoba,  Mzumganna   and   Mbotyi.   The   project   fostered   an   exchange   of  construction   skill   and   technology   that   resulted   in   the   local  communities  taking  ownership  of  the  infrastructure.    The   feeding   centres   which   in   some   cases   also   act   as   crèche  facilities  now  feed  in  excess  of  600  children  twice  daily.    A  number  of   the   buildings   also   provide   counselling   services   and   advice   on  HIV   Aids   and   TB,   where   partnerships  were   created  by   Friends   in  Ireland  and  other  NGO’s  working  in  these  areas.  The  Village   of   Hope   at   Lusikisiki  was   the  most   ambitious  project  undertaken,   with   an   overall   design   to   create   a   cluster   of   foster  homes,   a   feeding   centre   and   crèche.   The   site   is   located  overlooking   the   town   of   Lusikisiki,   which  has   a   very   high   rate   of  HIV  Aids  and  poverty.    The  site  also  has  significant  vegetable  and  garden   areas,   not   only   providing   food   to   the   foster   homes   and  crèche  but  also  allows  the  local  committee  running  the   facility   to  sell  the  remaining  produce  at  local  markets.  Fran  Whelan,  Architect.    

Education  As  you  can  imagine  all  the  Portmarnock  teachers  had  a  very  busy  and   daunting   schedule.   Not   only   were   their   own   pupils  supported   and   directed   but   then   lessons   had   to   be   planned,  resources   chosen,   and   classes   taught   in   the   sweltering   African  heat.   The   one   thing   that   we   all   learned   is   that   teaching   in   a  school  with  no  water,  no  electricity,  no  equipment,  no  toilets,  no  heat  or  air  conditioning  and  with  80   in  your  class  is  not  easy  no  matter  how  well  prepared  you  are.    I   have  the  greatest  admiration   for   the  staff   of   the  Sacred  Heart  School  working   in   these   conditions.  We  quickly   realised   that   to  help   the   pupils   we   had   to   support   these   teachers.   Requested  resources  were  sourced  and  teacher  visits  to  Ireland  funded  and  arranged.  We  were  all  delighted  to  hear   that  exam  results  have  improved   by   over   60%   in   the   last   3   years   and   we   were  particularly   pleased   last   February   to   see   parents   attending  school   functions   and   becoming   involved.   After   we   provided  teacher  in-‐service  and  quality  support  and  guidance,  staff  morale  improved  to  the  extent   that  staff  members  regularly  meet  on  a  Saturday  to  review  progress.    Surely  now  the  ultimate  aim  has  been  achieved,  the  journey  has  begun,  and  the  staff  are  on  the  long  road  of  self-‐determination.  I  am   very   proud   to   be   associated   with   the   Portmarnock  Community  School  Education  Programme.      Michael  Mc  Glynn,  Retired  Principal  N.S.        

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The  stark  contrast   between  what  we  were  seeing  now  and  what  we  had  seen  in  Cape  Town  was  immeasurable,  and  the  injustice  of  it  all  resonates  with  each  of  us  to  this  day.  The  emaciated  people,  the  tiny  round  huts  of  sticks  and  mud,  the  sheer  poverty  was  unbelievable.  It  was  over  the  next  two  weeks  that  we  set  about  making  a  difference  to  the  lives  of  those  in  the  areas  we  visited  -‐  first  Ingeli  and  later  Mbotyi.  The  amount  of  work   carried  out   in   the   two  weeks   is   testament   to   the   sheer  willpower  of  those  involved.  Feeding  centres,  orphan  houses  and  nurseries  were   renovated   or   built   from   the   ground   up,   teachers   were   trained,  medical  clinics  were  set  up  and  medicine  distributed.  And  that  was  just  the  beginning.  The  hospitality  and  gratefulness  of  the  people  is  astounding.  The  greeting  we  received  was  beyond  belief.   In  such  poverty,   they   live   for   their  music  and  will   take   any  opportunity   to  share   it.  Their  ability   to  break   into  song  and  dance  in  front  of  huge  groups  without  embarrassment  was  amazing  to  us.  It   is   truly   impossible   to   distil   the   essence   of   an   experience   so  extraordinarily   into   words   (in   a   short   article)   the   incomprehensible  poverty  of  the  people,  the  staggeringly  poor  conditions  in  which  they  live,  their   breathtaking   hospitality,   the   phenomenally   joyous   experience   of  working  with  them  for  the  betterment  of  their  community...  Never  one  to  shy  away  from  a  challenge,  I’ll  nevertheless  give  it  a  try:  The  phrase  “life-‐  changing”  is  thrown  around  a  lot  nowadays...  Conor  Keogh,  Student  2010.  

POWERLESS   TO   CHANGE   the   past,   living   to   change   the  future  –  that  was  our  motto  as  we  travelled  to  the  Eastern  Cape,  one  of  the  poorest  regions  of  South  Africa,  where  as  many   as   26%   of   the   population   are   suffering   from  HIV/AIDS.  Although   there  was  nothing  we,   a   group  of   students   and  teachers  from  Portmarnock  Community  School,  along  with  a  dedicated  group  of  hardworking  volunteers,  could  do  for  the  millions  of  people  who  have  already  died  as  a  result  of  the  disease,  we   sought   to  make   some  positive   impact  on  the  lives  of   those  living  in  the  Eastern  Cape,  and  it  was  to  this  end  that  we  worked  tirelessly  for  months,  fundraising  the   massive   cost   of   medical   supplies,   building   materials  and   other   necessities   for   helping   to   rebuild   an   area  suffering  so  badly  with  poverty  and  disease.  With   suitcases   packed  with   donations   from  well   wishers,  and   with   container   upon   container   of   medical   supplies,  clothes,   food,   teaching   equipment   and   building  materials  already   on   their   way,   the   atmosphere   of   uncontrollable  excitement   in   the   airport   that   February   morning   is  something  I  won’t  easily  forget.  Emotional   goodbyes   were   said   to   parents   torn   between  sadness  and  pride,   and  we  were  off  on  eighteen  hours  of  planes   and   airports,   on   our   way   to   help   those   less  fortunate   -‐   a   cliché   not   often   enough   seen   through.  Following  two  days   in   the   luxurious   surroundings  of   Cape  Town,   the   travelling   began   again,   until   we   reached   our  next  destination;  Ingeli.  

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Medical  

As  we  finish  our  project  in  South  Africa  and  move  on  to  Lesotho  it  is,  perhaps,  a  good  time  to  reflect  back  and  appraise  our  efforts  in  the  medical  clinics  over  the  past  few  years.  The  days  started  early  with  breakfast  about  6.30.  The  venues  for  clinics  were  often  more  than  two  hours  drive,  which  meant  we  were  ready  to  start  by  9.00  am  most  mornings.  

 Over   the  past   few  years,   it’s  been  my  privilege   to  be  associated  with  PCS   and  “Friends  in  Ireland”  as  part  of  the  medical  team  going  to  South  Africa.  Along  with  Eleanor  Ryan,  S.R.N.,  Dental  Surgeon  Martin  Tier  and  a  large  group  of  nurses   and   care   assistants   we   have   provided   a   voluntary   medical   service   to  groups   of   local   people   in   the   Mbotyi   and   Ingeli   districts   of   Eastern   Cape.  Organised  at  local  level  by  some  wonderfully  dedicated  nuns,  clinics  were  set  up  in  shacks,  sheds  or  open  air  spaces.  Word  spread  and  quickly  hundreds  of  people  poured   into  us,  many  very  needy  and   some  very   ill.   In  a  small  way,  along  with  the  students   from   the  school,   I   hope  we  gave   a   little  help   and  solace  to  those  who  sought  it.  But   the  need   is  great   in  South  Africa.  And  so   in   time,  hopefully,  some  of   those  young   students   with   us   will   be   inspired   to   return   there   and   again   offer   their  services  to  these  wonderful  African  people.  

 Doctor  Michael  Colclough.  

The  need  for  medical  care  was  all  too  obvious  by  the  numbers  attending  each  day,  usually  about  two  hundred  people.  The  clinics  were  generally  in  outlying  areas  where  access  to  medical  or  dental  care  was  difficult,  with  the  result  that  quite  a  number  of  people  attended  with  chronic  infection  or  with  a  history  of  chronic  pain  for  quite  some  time.  Although  conditions  were  far  from  ideal  it  was  possible  to  assess  all  who  presented  and  treat  their  medical  conditions,  (e.g.  chest  infections,  eye  conditions,  burns)  or  offer  advice  on  how  best  to  access  further  ongoing  medical  care.  For  those  with  dental  problems  it  was  possible  to  extract  teeth  for  some  and  treat  infections  and  pain  for  others.      It  struck  me  as  remarkable  how  people  had  been  in  pain  for  so  long  yet  waited  patiently,  in  some  cases  for  hours,  to  be  assessed  and  treated  each  day.      A  group  of  six  students  attended  at  the  clinics  each  day  to  observe  and  assist.  I  think  all  students  would  agree  that  this  was  an  experience  that  was  both  educational  and  emotional,  to  see  people  ill,  in  pain  and  very  obviously  lacking  the  care  and  comforts  we  take  for  granted  at  home.  There  were  long  days  in  varying  conditions,  from  old  school  buildings  in  forty  degrees  heat  to  wet  cold  mud  huts  with  rain  seeping  through  the  roof.  However,  good  humour  prevailed  in  the  company  of  my  colleagues,  Dr.  Michael  Colclough  and  nurses,  Eleanor  Ryan,  Clare  Hoban  and  Theresa  Conlon,  whose  work  in  caring  for  the  people  who  attended  our  clinics  was  amazing  and  much  appreciated  by  the  people  of  the  Eastern  Cape.      Martin  Tier,  Dental  Surgeon.  

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Over   the  past   two  years,   a   team  from  Portmarnock  Community   School   has  been  working   with   the   Lesotho   Government   to   establish   a   mission   to   encompass  Educational,  Health,  Construction  and  other  programmes  over  the  next  3  –  5  years.    The   group   visited   Lesotho   in   February   2011   and   met   with   a   team   led   by   the  Department   of   Education   in   Lesotho   and   agreed   to   partner  with   Hlalele   School,  Roma   Nursing   Training   College,   St.   Joseph’s   Hospital   and   the   Teacher   Training  College  in  the  capital,  Maseru.    The   country   has   deficiencies   in   the   Fire   and   Ambulance   Service   and   Dublin   Fire  Brigade   have   agreed   to   assist   in   a   programme   of   training,   skills   exchange   and  provision  of  equipment  to  enhance  this  badly  needed  services.  Lesotho  has  very  high   levels  of  HIV  Aids,  T.B.,  Mother  and  Child  mortality  at  birth  due   to   the   remote   village   locations,   lack   of   manned   clinics   and   services.   The  medical  team  has  now  secured  registration  in  Lesotho  and  the  mission  offers  great  opportunities  working  in  clinics  in  rural  areas  and  at  St.  Joseph’s  Hospital.    

A  construction  programme  envisages  building   a  number  of   lodges   for  mothers   in  waiting  adjacent   to  St.   Joseph’s  Hospital.  Additional  dormitories  are   also  planned  at  Roma  Nursing  Training  College.    A  separate  project  at  Hlalele  School  will  provide  additional  classrooms  and  sanitation  block  over  the  coming  years.  

   Our  Next  Journey  2012,  

Lesotho.    

Future  Plans  

 7    

               Five   years   ago   when   Portmarnock   Community   School   embarked   on   its   South   African  project   in   conjunction   with   Friends   in   Ireland,   there   was   the   expectation   that   students   and  teachers  would  experience  a  new  culture  and  engage  in  worthwhile  activities.    Little  did  we,  as  a  school  community,  know  that  our  lives  would  be  changed,  our  futures  shaped,  our  preconceived  notions  challenged  and  our  belief  in  the  power  of  good  strengthened  beyond  measure.                    The  inspiration  of  Marian  Finucane  and  her  husband  John  Clarke  led  us  to  ‘think  big’  and  to  reach  out  to  parents,  past  pupils,  local  business  and  professionals  in  the  area  of  medicine,  child  care,  construction,  architecture  and  engineering.    The  buzz  about  the  school  has  been  palpable  as   names   like   Lusikisiki,   Franklin   and  Mzumganna   roll   off   the   tongues   of   even   the   youngest  pupils  as  they  eagerly  anticipate  their  chance  to  become  part  of  the  ‘South  African’  group.    To  date  more  than  150  students  have  lived  that  South  African  experience.  They  have  given  of  their  talents,   they  have   laboured  hard,   they  have  watched  buildings   rise   from   the  ground,   feeding  stations,   houses   and   so  much  more.  They  have   sung  and   danced  with   local   children…hurling  and  football  matches  have  been  played  in  a  field  outside  the  school  in  Flagstaff.    Yes…they  have  given   -‐   but   in   fact   both   teachers   and   students  who   have   travelled   to   South   Africa   inevitably  speak   firstly   of   what   they   have   taken   from   their   experience.   They   have   grown   as   people,  learned  to  appreciate  diversity,  learned  to  value  the  luxuries  which  we  all  enjoy  in  daily  life  while  balancing  that  with  an  appreciation  of  the  richness  of  the  culture  of  the  young  people  they  met  who  despite  a   lack  of  ostensible  material  wealth  are  rich  beyond  words   in   the  truly   important  qualities  of  life…happiness,  joy  and  contentment.  

 Five   years   ago  Niall   Fitzgerald   brought   the   seedling   of   an   idea   to   PCS   and   has   nurtured   the  South   African   project   ever   since.     His   time,   efforts   and   relentless   good   humour   have   hugely  contributed  to  its  success.    As  the  P.C.S.  group  moves  to  pastures  new  in  Lesotho  for  its  next  project  we  acknowledge  the  work  of   all   involved   in   the  past   five   years’   visits,   both   those   actively   involved  and   those  who  supported  in  a  background  role.    Our  mixed  emotions  of  sadness  to  finish,  tinged  with  pride  in  a  job  well  done  fuel  us  with  the  energy  to  embrace  what  comes  next.    We  will  never   forget  our  first  project.      Pat  O’Riordan,  School  Principal.      My  name  is  Darren  Flynn,  and  I  am  one  of  the  30  students  who  were  selected  to  take  part  in  the  South  Africa  project  2011.            Telling  people  that  we  built  a  sanitation  block  doesn't  seem  massively  impressive,  but  it's  only  when  you  see  the  holes  for  toilets  they  had  before  we  arrived,  along  with  the  happiness  on  their  faces,   that  you  appreciate  what  a  difference  the  team  made.  You  also  have  to  realize  that   this  was   year   five   of   the   project   and   looking   at   it   from   a   broader   perspective,   this   was   just   the  finishing  touch.             I   immediately  became   attached   to   the   kids   at   Sacred  Heart.   They  were   all   so  unbelievably  friendly  and  thrived  on  their  education  which  came  as  such  a  shock  to  me  considering  the  harsh  conditions  they  live  under.  Besides  the  construction  site,  we  created  a  square  foot  garden  that  will  soon  provide  many  hungry  school  children  with  vegetables  and   in  the  classrooms  the  gang  spent  hours  teaching  music,  dancing,  maths,  science  and  IT.               Everything   I   witnessed   from   the   second   I   got   there   was   so   extremely   new,   different   and  educational.            After   the  completion  of  such  a  successful  challenge,  we  were  all   so  proud  and   I   felt  a  great  deal   of   satisfaction.   Saying   goodbye   to   all   of   our   new   friends   at   the   school   was   one   of   the  hardest   things  I've  ever  experienced  because  you  know  very  well  that  most  of   them  will  never  receive  the  opportunities  they  deserve.            It  was  an  absolute  honour  to  be  given  the  opportunity   to  go  on  this   trip  of  a  lifetime  and   it  was  by  far  one  of  the  most  eye  opening  experiences  of  my  life.  A  huge  thanks  to  “Friends  In  Ireland  “,  Portmarnock  Community  School  and  every  person  who  supported  our  collective  fundraising  and  who  went  on  the  trip  throughout  the  project,  especially  the  organizers  and  teachers  who  went  along  to  look  after  us.                              "Two  are  better  than  one,                                    if  one  falls,  the  other  helps  him  up"    

-‐ Ecclesiates  4:9                                              "With  teamwork,  anything  can  be  achieved"                                      Darren  Flynn,                                    Student  2011.  

   

 

 

 

Lorem  Ipsum  Dolor  

 

                                                                   2011  Sam  Boland    Rachel  Boyle    Harry  Bradshaw    Síobhan  Brady  Ian  Briody  Jennifer  Byrne  Lauren  Daly  Emma  Deegan    Sinead  Deegan    Samuel  David  Earlwood  Darren  Flynn  Kelly  Forde  Rachel  Gallagher  Holly  Herbert  Jamie  Johnston  Emma  Kielty  Sean  Mangan  Sam  McCabe  Conor  Mcloughlin  Jack  Morrison    Niall  Murphy  Kate  Murran  Luke  Nangle  Conor  Nolan  Roisin  O’Donovan  Mark  O’Hare  Shane  O’Reilly  Fiona  Peppard  Dylan  Potter  Rachel  Maloney  Robin  Keane  Ruth  Molloy  Daniel  Rea  Gillian  Spollen  Kate  Whyte  Joanne  Power      

2010  Aimee  Courage  Amy  Cowap  Jenny  Creaby  Rebecca  Dawson  Conor  Dillon  Aisling  Drumgoole  Holly  Finlay  Laura  Flynn  Daire  Foley  Matthew  Gavin  Ronan  Harvey  Sarah  Hawkshaw  Sean  Healy  Shannon  Herlihy  William  Hickey  Elizabeth  Johnston  Hannah  Keane  Conor  Keogh  Ciara  McCabe  Jack  McCabe  Jessica  McElroy  Cliodhna  Mullaney  Sinead  O’Kelly  Cara  O’Sullivan  Burke  Darragh  Reynolds  Carl  Rogers  Darren  Ryan  Mark  Shaw  Aideen  Walshe  Thomas  Whelan    

2009  Emma  Birmingham  John  Breen  Catriona  Burnbury-‐Allan  Laura  Byrne  Sean  Casey  Eoghan  Clarke  Shauna  Cummins  Ronan  Donnelly  Aoife  Dowling  James  Fagan  Niamh  Fallon  Siun  FitzGerald  Glan  Francis  Christine  Gibson  Aisling  Glover  Laoise  Hamill  Joshua  Hearty  Danielle  James  Dylan  Kane  Katie  Keegan  Kiera  Keegan  Joseph  McCarthy  Aoife  McGovern  Caoileann  Mulcahy  Olivia  Murphy  Sarah  Murran  Danu  Ni  Chonaill  Ornagh  O’Shaughnessy  Ryan  O’Shaughnessy  Sarah  Peppard  Shane  Quigley  Aoife  Redmond  Jordan  Robinson  Liadan  Scott  Keogh  Jane  Smith  Lucy  Travers      

2008  Ronan  Atkins  Thomas  Bell  Grace  Bergin  John  Boyle  Danielle  Bruen  Robyn  Bruen  Niamh  Bury  Niamh  Coughlan  Andrew  Cowan  Niamh  Cronin  Neal  Dawson  Stephine  Dillon  Marcus  Fitzmaurice  Gina  Goti  Catherine  Healy  Cormac  Herlihy  Brian  Higgins  Niall  Hoban  Amy  Holden  Sarah  King  Ailbhe  Lawlor  Niamh  McCabe  Avina  McCarthy  Tadgh  McCarthy  Sean  McKIernan  Kate  McMullan    Cian  Molloy  Robert  Mulpeter  Ciaran  Stanley  Emer  Tansey  Stephen  Tier  Miriam  Twomey  Conor  Wallnutt  

2007  Aisling  Beirne  Lisa  Boyle  David  Brady  Amy  Campion  Sinead  Canning  Mary  Collins  Amy  Cooke  Joe  Corish  Aisling  Coughlin  Laura  Creaby  Colm  Fahy  Jessica  Gibson  Kenneth  Glover  Sarah  Kane  Eamonn  Kelly  Stephanie  Kenny  Hannah  McCabe    Daniel  Montgomery  Nathan  Mullins  Sinead  Murray  Laura  O  Hagan    Daire  Pearson  Ben  Reinhardt  Marina  Spollen  Mark  Whelan  

Student  Participants  

Lay  out  and  design  by  Hannah  McCabe,  student  participant  2007.