Students work, fund and serve
Fifty Leaving Cert students from Jesuit schools and Holy Rosary College Crumlin, raised €25,000 euro for projects in Jamaica and Africa, which they themselves had taken part in (see picture). They were part of the Magis Ireland ‘Serving the International Community Overseas Programme’ , and some went to West Kingston, Jamaica working for three weeks in St Anne’s summer schools, a project run by the local community in the Jesuit parish. Others volunteered for work in South Africa where they built toilets and painted a community centre as part of a Magis Ireland partnership with ‘Friends in Ireland’, the organisation set up and run by John Clarke and R.T.E’s Marian Finucane.
Another Successful Year
A word from Debbie Moore, Project co-ordinator, Magis Ireland, Jesuit Young Adult Ministry
As part of their justice programmes, over 50 young adults volunteered for work in South Africa and Jamaica in July and August. The majority of the volunteers were 2011 Leaving Certificate students from Belvedere College, Coláiste Iognáid, Crescent College Comprehensive, and Holy Rosary College Crumlin.
In West Kingston, Jamaica the volunteers assisted for three weeks in St Anne’s summer schools, a project run by the local community in the Jesuit parish. They were hosted by the regional superior, Fr. Peter McIsaac, SJ.
In partnership with Friends in Ireland (FII), the Irish NGO established and run by John Clarke and R.T.E’s Marian Finucane, Magis Ireland organized the project in area of Flagstaff, Durban, South Africa.
Over four weeks,three different young adult groups worked on building much-needed toilets and over the course of their stay they also painted and decorated the Xabiso community centre, run by FII.
In addition, each volunteer group was facilitated to reflect on their day-to-day experience during evening prayer, in guided reflection times and at mass. They also had inputs and reflection time on the work of FII in South Africa, and on the HIV/AIDS pandemic as experienced in the locality.
There was great excitement when recently, forty five of those volunteers gathered at Magis Ireland Offices for a reunion and reflection on both projects. They were warmly thanked by Vivienne Fenton FII and Magis Ireland’s Debbie Moore, for the huge effort each volunteer (and in some cases, their schools) made in raising a total of €25,000 for both projects in Jamaica and South Africa.
The photograph above shows Friends in Ireland, receiving the cheque.
Well done to all of the volunteers and especially to everyone who supported them in raising funds! If you are interested in these challenging and amazing opportunities and would like to take up a leadership role volunteer or next year please contact me at 01 8943165. E-mail [email protected] Application forms are available on our web site www.magisireland.com.
Follow the link below for a video on South Africa Challenge 2011
http://www.magisireland.com/programmes/justice/international-volunteering/south-africa.html
