The Transition Year Zambia Committee organised a very successful 'Zambia Week'.
Transition Year students participated in an 'African Cultural Awareness' day, facilitated by Beni Karuga. Following a Development Education workshop, they made percussion instruments from recycled materials, hand shakers from coat hanger wire and bottle caps and anklets from tin cans and stones. They learnt traditional African dances and dressed in Zambian chitenges. The students ended the day with an enthusiastic celebration of African culture.
Sixth Year student, Lee Campbell, arranged for traditional Zambian music to be played during lunch time each day.
Transition Year students held a 'Fair Trade Bake Sale' and raised €255 for Presentation Sisters' Mission in Kaoma, Zambia.
A group of Fifth Year and Transition Year students attended the WorldWise Global School's (WWGS) annual student conference in Limerick. WWGS's Programme Director, Mary McCarthy introduced this year's theme: 'The New Sustainable Global Goals'. CONCERN's Michael Doorley facilitated a youth panel discussion on worldwide Development issues.
Students attending the conference participated in workshops on the new seventeen Global Goals. Presentation College Transition Year students displayed their Development Education project on the Global Goals.
Irish Aid presented Global Passport awards to a number of schools. Fifth Year student, Cian Heffernan accepted a Special Global Passport award for Presentation College's cross curricular Development Education activities and our partnership with Kaoma Community School, Zambia.
Fifth Year students, Cian Heffernan, Clodagh McHugh and Ailbhe Dempsey presented their reflections on their 'Global Education Experience' to Zambia to their year group. Highlights of their experience included playing with the children at the Cheshire Home in Mongu who are cared for by Presentation Sister, Cathy Crawford. Despite suffering from major physical disabilities the children expressed great joy singing, playing clapping games and blowing bubbles.
Another highlight was meeting so many inspirational, caring, compassionate and selfless missionaries. These included Father Eamonn Hayden, Chaplain of Mother Teresa's AIDS hospice in Lusaka, Sister Molly Moloney who cares for the children at Kaoma orphanages, Sister Inez Fernandez who runs a farm project and teaches important skills to the local community, Sister Terry Abraham who facilitates a spirituality programme at her 'Garden of Oneness' and many other Presentation Sisters who empower the local people to take responsibility for their own development. They all agreed it was a life changing experience and hope to return to Zambia at a future date.
Following a workshop facilitated by Miriam Healy, Development Officer with the 'Friends of Nano', a group of Transition Year students have decided to set up a 'Youth Friends of Nano' group at Presentation College, based on the core values, Partnership with the Divine, Passion for the Poorest and Covenant with Creation. Transition Year student, Claudette Moore attended the 'Friends of Nano' conference at Mount Saint Anne's Retreat Centre. The theme of the conference was 'Seeing Anew' and the keynote speaker was Martina Lehane Sheehan. Claudette participated in the Opening Ceremony of the conference.
Prizes were presented to First and Second Year winners of a 'Zambia Week Poetry Competition'. Prize winners were Charlie O'Meara, Amy McDonald, Amber Durran, Claire Taylor, Sapphire Lawlor, Chloe Watchorn, Holly McGrath, Dillon Delaney, Ciarán Flynn and Bernadette Cassidy.
Prizes were presented to the Fairtrade Poster Competition winners, Dovile Tamulionyte, Ciara Glynn, Beibhinn O'Brien, Petra Aghware, Caragh Geoghegan, Cathy Tai, Kinga Godyn, Saoirse O'Boyle and Ciarán Flynn. Their posters were based on this year's Fairtrade Fortnight theme, ‘Sit down for breakfast, Stand up for farmers'.
Winners of our 'Zambia Week Colouring Competition' from Askea Girls Primary School were Jasmine Mihaila and Stefanio Castillo Vara. Winners from Scoil Mhuire were Ava Hutchinson and Leah Coogan.
Drumming workshops will be given by Mr Eddie Sheehan to Transition Year students in May.