YEAR 13 VISIT TO INDIA WITH SAPHARA (JULY 2016)
In June 2016, eight Year 13 students from St. Mary’s joined students from Sullivan Upper and Ampleforth College when they travelled to India as part of the school’s work with Saphara. Saphara is a Northern Ireland based charity which seeks to provide financial and practical support for under-privileged children in schools in India. The charity also assists children, women and families living in poor, marginalised communities in India. Saphara works in partnership with other charities in India to provide education, materials, support and empowerment for those living in poverty in India. Each year, teams of young people from different schools in Northern Ireland travel to India during the summer to teach in two different schools. Accompanied by Mr Tracey, the St. Mary’s students – Aoife Bradley, Faoiltiarna Burke, Shauna Lennon, Alicia McAuley, Eoin McAuley, Damien McCoy, Meabh McGirr and Ruairi O’Kane - spent 16 days in India, during which time they worked to develop the language skills and confidence of educationally disadvantaged school children in both rural and urban communities. This year the pupils achieved a superb fundraising total of over £16,000.
2.7 FUNDRAISING FOR CHARITY
St. Mary’s is proud of its long history of supporting charitable causes. The generosity and kindness of the whole school community – including students, staff and parents - are widely recognised and have benefitted a range of charity organisations over many years. St. Mary’s charity work fulfils part of the school’s vision whereby we aim to:
encourage students to play an active and responsible role in society;
provide opportunities for students to develop as global citizens;
encourage students to use their talents for the service of others; and
create a vibrant living faith community where all members of the school community are encouraged to live the Gospel values and be committed to a Christian way of life.
Through charity, fundraising and volunteering activities, students learn about charitable causes and the work of particular charitable organisations. Engagement in charity, fundraising and volunteering activities gives students an opportunity to put their faith into action, demonstrate Christian values and develop a sense of social responsibility and moral obligation by serving others in need in the local, national and global context. Throughout 2015/16, St. Mary’s students supported a number of charity organisations.
Details of the school’s charity fundraising activities are presented in the following table:-
Year Group
|
Activity / Event
|
Amount Raised
|
Charity
|
8
|
Zumbathon
|
£2,003.95
|
Saphara
|
9
|
Sponsored Walk
|
£2,986.84
|
Multiple Sclerosis Society
|
10
|
Zumbathon
|
£935.35
|
Lepra
|
11
|
Class Collection
|
£371.31
|
Unicef
|
12
|
Gift Collection
|
Gifts
|
SVDP Family Gift Aid Appeal
|
13
|
Coffee morning
|
£314
|
Mood Matters ‘Aware Defeat Depression’
|
13 & 14
|
Street Collection
|
Funds went directly to Genesis
(fundraising organisers)
|
Special Olympics
|
In addition, staff co-ordinated a range of different events to raise money for charities, as detailed below:
Date
|
Event
|
Amount Raised
|
Charity
|
Throughout the year
|
Merchandise at Xmas market and leavers’ hoodies
(co-ordinated by Year 13 Mini- Enterprise Scheme)
|
£2,000
|
Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice & Action Mental Health
|
Throughout the year
|
sale of ‘quarter zips’
(co-ordinated by Year 11 Mini- Company)
|
£645
|
Cancer Focus/ NI Children’s Hospice
|
October
|
Fit for School Challenge
|
£5,618
|
Cancer Focus
|
November
|
Shoe Box Appeal
(co-ordinated by Mrs Mateo-Loughlin and Mrs Higgins)
|
Shoeboxes /
transport costs
|
Shoe Box Appeal
|
December
|
Hamper Appeal (co-ordinated by Mr Maynes)
|
50 hampers
|
St. Vincent de Paul
|
March/ April
|
Trocaire Box Collection (staff and students)
|
£200
|
Trocaire
|
May / June
|
Friday Treats
(co-ordinated by Miss Donnelly)
|
£570
|
Action MS
|
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