Nine members of the Mary Immaculate College (MIC) community will travel to India in the new year to volunteer at the Flame of Hope Home and School for children with special intellectual and physical needs.
According to event organiser Professor Eamonn Conway, the participation of additional MIC staff will allow them provide a quality in-service programme to the school staff at Flame of Hope while the MIC students will have daily placements in the school and also work with the children in the home.
“We also intend to contribute further to the work in the leprosy village where whole families live not only with chronic illness but also crucifying poverty.”
There are also plans to build two small cottages for disabled people who live near the school in conjunction with Dan McSharry, who has his own construction company in Australia, and his father who will travel over from Cavan.
Last year, four MIC students travelled to India to volunteer. (Further information about that trip can be accessed here http://maryitriptoindia.blogspot.ie).
In addition to working in the school, they also provided and installed an outdoor playground suitable for children additional physical needs. They helped provide food parcels to a nearby village of people suffering from leprosy as well as providing the first smart board for use in the school. They also arranged training for the teachers and had a retreat for staff and young people at Flame of Hope.
According to Professor Conway, the project was well supported.
“We were overwhelmed by the support we received within and outside the College, both in terms of people wishing the project well and also for the financial support. In all, we were able to donate €10,000 to the work of the school and home.”
While acknowledging the many demands being placed on everyone this time of year, Prof. Conway outlined how even the smallest donation has the power to make such a difference to those in need. €50 will enable a child from a nearby village to travel to the school; €75 will pay a teacher’s salary for one week and €300 will pay a salary for one month.
“Any amount donated will help with the monthly food bill in the home as well as food parcels for the leprosy village,” he explained.
For the building project, people can donate specific amounts. For example, €10 will buy 100 bricks, €90 will buy a window etc.
Taking part in the project are students: Kate Cooke, Jack Phelan, Patricia Condon, Cian O’Brien and William Stone as well as Dr Emer Ring, Sheila O’Callaghan Dr Brendan O’Keeffe and Prof. Éamonn Conway.
For further information on how to donate contact Eamonn.Conway@mic.ul.ie
There will also be a fundraising pub quiz in Mungret GAA Hall on December 28.
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