Students become teachers

A very successful project which had Transition Year students in Clongowes teaching English to asylum seekers concluded on 19 May with a Fun Day. The project was a joint-initiative of Clongowes and JRS Ireland, and entailed the students providing one-to-one tuition to the asylum seekers residing in the Eyre Powell Hostel in Newbridge. The Fun Day involved a barbecue, face-painting, tour of the Castle and presentation of certificates. Kathleen Byrne, Eyre Powell Hostel Manger, wrote on behalf of the residents to acknowledge the great dedication of Clongowes staff and students. Norah, an asylum seeker from Congo, summed up how she felt about the value of the language classes when she told Frank Clarke, Project Coordinator: “We cannot afford to buy you a gift to express our thanks so we thank you in our hearts.”