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School News

Published on February 13th, 2022 | by admin

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Mustard Seed “Dare to Care” Challenge

Mustard Seed communities are a charity dedicated to caring for the most vulnerable members of society, especially disabled and abandoned children in Jamaica, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

For the past number of years Mustard Seed Ireland’s ‘Children for Children’ Volunteer Programme saw more than 200 Irish TY student volunteers fundraise and travel to Mustard Seed Jamaica, to witness first-hand the good work of Mustard Seed.

Unfortunately, with the onset of the pandemic, all of Mustard Seeds international programmes have come to a sudden halt. This is very difficult for the charity.

Mustard Seed are delighted that the youth volunteers have become such an integral part of what the charity does. Mustard Seed communities want to continue to work with them to raise awareness and to be the voices for Mustard Seed in Ireland.

We are proud to say that our Transition Year students here in Castlerea Community School, under the guidance of their teacher, Ms. McNulty, are the first students in Co. Roscommon to take on the Mustard seed ‘Dare to Care’ challenge.

‘Dare to care’ is a Global Citizenship programme with a focus on Social Justice, Equality, Identity, Diversity and Sustainability. Transition year students in Castlerea completed Mustard Seed communities 7 week workshop with Ms. McNulty. Throughout the programme students came to appreciate their position as Global Citizens and learn how to use their voice to effect change, to create the kind of world that they would like to live in.

Advocacy and action projects are a key part of this programme.  Our students have become a voice for Mustard Seed and have taken part in ‘Marathons for Mustard Seed’. This involves picking a challenge, completing it and fundraising for the charity.

The challenge chosen by out TY students was a Sports Blitz which took place in the school gym recently. Students participated enthusiastically making this day a wonderful success. A big “thank you” to all involved and a special thanks to Mr. Collins and Mr. Callaghan who lead the sports blitz on the day. Thank you to Ms. Connaughton who gave so generously of her time decorating the gym so beautifully for us and for being our photographer. Thank you to Ms. Ryan, TY Coordinator, for all her help and support in organising the event.

TY students also had a very exciting day when they had their Virtual Trip to Jamaica. This was facilitated by Dervilla Gannon, Mustard Seed Ireland, and Ms. McNulty. This involved students meeting the mustard Seed team and residents in an online experience that was informative, emotional and great fun. Students could see first-hand the people they are raising money for and the main thing students commented on after the experience, was how happy and positive everyone in the Mustard Seed Communities are, even though they have very little and some are dealing with great challenges in life.

This has been a wonderful experience for our school and for TY Students here in CCS. Well done to all of you and keep passing on those fundraising pages. Remember what Mustard Seed say, no matter how small your contribution, by working together, everyone can make a real difference! Just like the little mustard seed, the smallest seed of all, when planted, can grow into a huge tree.

TY students, pictured with Mr. T. Callaghan and Mr. S. Collins, during the sports blitz – their chosen “Mustard Seed” challenge.

 

TY students, pictured with Ms. M. McNulty, during the sports blitz – their chosen “Mustard Seed” challenge.

 


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