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Local ladies off to Ethiopia
28.06.09
Mount Errigal climb
next fund raising venture for local volunteers
by Liam Porter, Inishowen
Independent
TWO LOCAL 24-year olds getting set to head to
Ethiopia next month to help with the Hope and a
Future school building project, are hoping for huge
support from the people of Inishowen towards their
fund raising ventures.
Sara McLaughlin from Buncrana and Laura Doherty from
Drumfries will head to the Ethiopian town of
Shashemene on July 4 and will spend two weeks
helping paint the school before it is opened to its
new students.
Speaking to the Inishowen Independent last week,
Sara said she was really looking forward to the trip
adding that she had been delighted with the way
local people had rowed in behind the project so far.
“I got involved because Laura’s mum Kathleen is
friendly with the founder of the project, but I’m
really looking forward to the trip now,” she said. |
Sara who has
third-level qualifications in textile design said
that the two local women will be helping finishing
the décor at the new school built by the foundation.
“We will work on the school but we will also be
working with the local children doing arts and
crafts projects with them during our two weeks,” she
said. |
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The local volunteer
added that the fund raising ventures were designed
to cover the costs of the trip with anything extra
going directly to the charity.
“We’ll also be bringing arts and crafts materials
with us for the children and we are hoping to raise
as much as we can locally for what is a terrific
cause,” she added.
The Hope and a Future project began in early 2007
when a small support group was formed in Randalstown,
and a local committee set up in Shashemene. The
group began a process of negotiation for land to be
made available for the building of a school in the
area of need.
They also began to raise funds and from a very small
beginning, with the support of a small number of
people obtained sufficient funds to rent a vacant
building as a temporary school. In Sept 2007, 165
children aged 6 to 12 began their education in this
building, four rooms of 40 children and locally
employed teachers.
This school now has 210 children and has become a
permanent facility, while the second school is under
construction and will have potential when completed,
to accommodate at least 320 children.
Sara has already organised successful table quiz and
fancy dress night in Buncrana, while her mum is also
busy in a charity shop in Buncrana’s Market Square
raising funds for her venture.
The girls took part in the Annual Sponsored Climb of
Mount Errigal yesterday.
“The people of Inishowen have been terrific and even
with the recession they have been brilliant at
supporting this worthy cause," added Sara. If you
would like to help out, call Kathleen on 0861615816. |
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