Athlone Community College students Michelle McHugh, Mark Roche, Sorcha McManus, and Gavin Ward, along with school principal Eileen Donohoe, recently returned from an eye-opening trip to Rwanda in Africa. The trip was awarded as their prize for winning the 2010 Concern All-Ireland debating competition.
While in Rwanda they got a chance to see the groundbreaking work being undertaken by Concern. Rwanda suffered from a terrible genocide in 1994 and as a result the country was left in abject poverty. That however has begun to change dramatically and the Athlone team saw for themselves the improvements being implemented.
Sorcha McManus noted how Concern operate a model parent initiative where a member of the locality adopts a number of people and shows them better ways to farm and produce food. As part of their trip the Athlone visitors were assigned a model parent and they saw firsthand the success of this system.
They also visited a memorial centre where pictures of many of the deceased from the genocide were displayed. Mark Roche was especially impressed with this, describing it as dignified and unforgettable. “It really brings the tragedy home to you - there is no blame, just sad memories,” he said.
The provision of water is a major task for the people of Rwanda, and Michelle Mc Hugh experienced how this provision works, while Gavin Ward got to take part in local crafts. He was struck by how positive the people were.
The students and principal also visited primary schools and compared notes on education provision.
All in all it was a life-changing experience and Mrs Donohoe summed it up as follows: “It was an amazing and educational trip. The students stepped outside their comfort zones and engaged with the African people. They now have an understanding of poverty but also of hope and what can be achieved through endeavour. Concern have got it right here - the transformation of Rwanda in 16 years is a testament to the vision and effort of Concern. I am glad these students will have positive memories of this incredible trip.”
This is the third time in four years the school has won the debating competition, with previous teams going to Haiti (2007 ) and Malawi (2008 )
