Drimnagh students on mission to see Concern at work

TWO fifth-year students from Drimnagh Castle School, Emmet Farrell and Thomas Maguire, have returned from Uganda where they spent 10 days visiting a Concern Worldwide project.

Emmet and Thomas won first prize in a Concern video competition. It was part of a European-wide initiative to make young people aware of the fact that one billion people do not have enough to eat.

Eight young people from ECO – UNESCO’s Youth for Sustainable Development Global Youth Leaders for Change Programme – made the three-minute video and Emmet and Thomas were chosen to travel to Uganda.

They were accompanied by Feidhlim � Seasnáin, who is programme coordinator.

The programme on the environment and sustainable development is run for young people between 15 and 18 and is funded by Irish Aid.

“We have a great Transition Year at Drimnagh Castle and TY coordinator Fergal Kelleher does a brilliant job,

? Thomas said.

“It was through him that we got involved with Eco. We meet every Wednesday and there are 70 young people in the group.

“We visited Concern projects in Amuria where we met Madeline, who is a widow. It was amazing to listen to her story. Concern is teaching her how to farm and has taught her how to read and write.

“She was so delighted telling us her story. The work that Concern is doing in Uganda is changing the lives of people.

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Emmet added:

“It is an eye opener to see people living in mud huts, with no running water or electricity and using cow manure to insulate their homes.

“All the time while I was in Uganda it struck me how our over-consumption and waste in the developed world has a negative effect in the poorest countries of the world.

“But it was great to see how Concern is involved in teaching life skills to people and all the time doing this on a partnership basis.

?

Thomas and Emmet are extremely well tuned in to environmental issues and were struck to see advertising for familiar world brands right in the middle of such poverty.

“There is something strange about these big brands selling products to people who can barely survive,

? Thomas added.

“On the one hand we saw people whose roofs are made of rubbish and yet many have more access to mobile phones than water.

?

Emmet, who lives in Kilmainham, would like to work in marketing or the media or become a teacher of English and history.

Thomas, from Crumlin, is interested in teaching too but is also thinking of doing something in film.

Both lads had great praise for the TY programme at Drimnagh Castle and the ECO UNESCO programme.

“Everyone can apply to do the year but it is limited to 24 places,

? Thomas explained.

“We all did FETAC Level 3. We also won a Gaisce bronze award and we all completed the ECDL course.

?

Emmet and Thomas and ECO coordinator Feidhlim were greatly impressed with the work that Concern is doing in Uganda.

“I’d love people to see what Concern is doing and the two of us are certainly going to tell everyone in Drimnagh Castle about the great work that is being done,

? Emmet enthused.

“People need to know.

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To read more about Concern’s work in Uganda log on to https://www.concern.net/where-we-work/africa/uganda