Raising funds to help build homes in Zambia
By Aideen O'Flaherty
STUDENTS from Old Bawn Community School will be holding a car-boot sale in the car park of St Martin de Porres’ Church in Aylesbury on Saturday, June 15, to raise funds for them to go to Zambia in 2020 to build houses with Habitat for Humanity Ireland.
The 11 pupils who were selected to go on the trip are in third year and transition year, and they need to raise €57,000 in order to go to Zambia to assist with building houses.
(Back row, from left) Faye O’Neill, Ellen Campbell, Ms Lillis, Ms Gannon, Holly McCarthy, Eoin Coughlan, Shane Reck, Seán Keelan and Emma Brennan; (Front) Riley Cummins, Mr Teevan, Kiara Maher and Rachel Dunne
The teenagers will be accompanied to Zambia by five of their teachers, who have previously helped to build houses with the charity.
A number of fundraising events have already been held by the pupils, including bag-packing collections in Dunnes Stores and SuperValu, a ‘Hairless for Habitat’ waxing event, a carol service, a cake sale, and a bucket collection at the Aviva Stadium.
It’s hoped that the car-boot sale will bring the pupils closer to their fundraising goal, with people being asked to donate items, such as bric-a-brac, small furniture or electronics, so the students can sell them in aid of the fundraiser at the event.
People are also welcome to come along with their own car on the day to sell items to make money for themselves, all that is required is the payment of a €20 fee that will be given to the cause.
Old Bawn Community School
Louise Keelan, whose son Sean (15) has been selected to go on the trip, told The Echo: “Going to Zambia will be a life-changing experience for the pupils.
“They had a meeting at the start of the year with students who had done it the previous year.
“A lot of them are quiet and shy when they go over, but they come back really confident and feeling like they can conquer the world.”
The car-boot sale will be held in the car park of St Martin de Porres’ Church from 11am to 2pm on Saturday, June 15, and for further information in relation to donations or support on the day contact Louise on 085 702 6249.
Donations for the cause are also being accepted through a GoFundMe page
