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SVP's Kevin returns to
Uganda
28.04.10
BUNCRANA man Kevin
Cooley has made a second trip to Uganda with St.
Vincent de Paul. Travelling with fellow SVP
representative, Mary McGeoghegan, they were greeted
by the enthusiastic students of Precious College
after touching down at Entebbe airport.
Once known as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda, with a
population of 30 million, is beginning to recover
its sparkle.
Kevin and Mary previously visited Uganda in 2007 and
were aware then of how the National Council of SVP
in Uganda strives to serve the poor, the mentally
and physically handicapped, prisoners, victims of
AIDS, orphans and street people. Their latest visit
confirmed that their Ugandan counterparts continue
in their efforts to serve the poor.
The visitors’ first visit on this occasion was to
Christ the King Church where Ugandan SVP members
gather every Saturday morning. |
“It is always a lasting
memory to witness rows of disabled, blind, orphaned
destitute people as they await their weekly rations
from SVP members” Mary said.
“Visiting Precious College Secondary School in the
East of Kampala is always an uplifting experience,”
added Kevin.
Half of the 400 students are dependent on the school
for their food, uniforms and educational needs. |
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Despite their
difficulties they love to sing and the school has a
wonderful music group called ‘Precious Echoes’ whose
patron is Kevin and some of whom visited Donegal
last July.
Seven past pupils of Precious College School are
currently attending university and are being
supported by SVP in Donegal.
The main purpose of the visit however was to explore
the possibility of building a canteen for the
school. After Kevin and Mary’s visit in 2007 they
were made aware of the need for a purpose built
canteen for the school. 300 of the 400 pupils
receive their only meal of the day at Precious
College and the structure for preparing the food is
not adequate for their needs.
“We met with Joseph Mary last July when he visited
us in Donegal and discussed the priority needs of
the school. He told us that the good name the school
has within the community has made it a victim of its
own success as they do not have the structures to
accommodate all the pupils they now have on their
books,” Kevin said.
“Joseph Mary made a request for an Assembly Hall and
a Canteen. Our visit in March has both affirmed our
intentions to improve the school’s accommodation and
to decide how SVP in Donegal can best do this.”
The cost of the project will be €40,000 and when
completed will change the quality of education that
Precious College School can provide for its growing
population of pupils. It is envisaged that to raise
the total required amount for the project will take
up to a year and various activities are already
being planned.
Before Kevin and Mary’s departure from the school it
was a fitting tribute to Donegal to witness 15 of
the students step out in the green and gold strip
that was generously donated by the Donegal GAA. St
Vincent de Paul would like to thank Grace Boyle,
treasurer and Frankie Doherty, assistant treasurer
of the County GAA Board and Elizabeth Doherty,
Carndonagh GAA Board.
(Inishowen Independent) |
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