Welcome home to our Transition Year students Roisin McCarthy , Orla Sheehy Laura Cullinane and their Teacher ,Ms Sinead McEvoy, who landed back in Dublin this morning , Saturday, February 22nd,after an emotional but exciting trip to Zambia with Self Help Africa.

Trips like this, as described by students, who have travelled to Africa from our school in the past , are often seen as life changing experiences, in that they can take the student out of their comfort zone and force them to think about their place in the wider world.They allow students to see first hand a culture, a world , very different from their own .

The aim of the trip is to give the students and teachers a chance to see a part of Africa first hand, and learn more about the challenges that people here face in their daily lives – whether it relates to gender equality, climate, trade or the issues around farming and sustainable food production,” explained Dorothy Jacob, coordinator of the schools programme. “It’s about both deepening understandings and challenging preconceptions,” she added.

These visits to Africa take place each year for schools that participate in Gorta-Self Help Africa’s programme of school workshops .Students carry out local fundraising activities that both support the costs of the trip and contribute to the work of the charity. The participants from each school are chosen in a selection process that includes an essay and an interview.

We look forward to the girls ,and Ms McEvoy ,sharing their experience with the school community on our return to school on Monday , February 24th.

Watch this space for more photos , but in particular , of the girls shared diary of their trip.