Peter Power TD, Minister of State for Overseas Development at the Department of Foreign Affairs today (Friday, 29th January) launched the Southill South Africa Schools Link at The Southill Area Centre in Limerick city. This is a joint venture between The Southill Local Education Committee, The Amawele School Twinning Project and The Niall Mellon Township Trust.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Peter Power said:
“It is great to see so many young pupils here today who are willing to share their experiences.  The fact that people of your age are often deprived of their rights because of poverty is obviously important to you and it is very positive that you are willing to work to promote change.”

“As I have seen myself at first hand, Africa is a very diverse continent with considerable potential and there is much that we can learn from each other.  Notwithstanding progress, the scale of global poverty and the many challenges faced by developing countries are still daunting.”

“The links being developed through the programme we are launching today represent true partnership and also a strong sense of community. I am delighted that you have chosen to partner with schools in South Africa through this initiative and that Irish Aid has been in a position to provide support. I would urge you to keep this experience in your minds and in your hearts as you progress through school and beyond.”

Amawele (which means ‘twins’) facilitates the ‘twinning’ of schools in Ireland, with their counterparts in South Africa.  Through the project, students and teachers are able to explore the culture and experience life in their respective countries.  Each school contributes to the understanding and benefit of the other, generating two way traffic in terms of cultural and educational twinning.

Amawele has been working with the Southill Local Education Committee and the Limerick Regeneration Agencies whose objective is to improve the quality of life for residents within key Limerick City locations. Students and teachers, from schools in the Southill area will today introduce themselves (via Skype) with their ‘twin school’ in the Wallacedene/Kraaifontein area outside Cape Town.

Commenting on the initiative Amawele Chief Executive Billy O’Keeffe said, "Schools in Ireland have a long tradition of engagement with schools from around the world which has enriched our understanding of the world we share.  The Amawele project gives thousands of school children in Ireland and South Africa opportunities to connect with each other, to learn about their similarities and differences and to create new friendships.  It will also enhance mutual understanding and respect for diversity and cultural difference."

Dominic Loughran, Director of Operations with the Niall Mellon Township Trust added, “We are pleased to be here today to support the excellent work Amawele are doing with the schools twinning programme. Some of these schools are located in townships where we are building houses and we can see first-hand the considerable benefits these school children receive through the Amawele programme”.

The South African Schools are located in an area which is being transformed through work carried out by The Niall Mellon Township Trust.  At the end of the Trust’s last Building Blitz, 200 homes, a new school hall, football pitch and communal garden were handed over to the community of Wallacedene.

Both organisations have received support from Irish Aid. This schools project is a joint venture between Amawele and The Niall Mellon Township Trust.

There are six schools from the Southill area participating in the Amawele project; Gaelscoil Sheoirse Clancy, Our Lady of Lourdes NS, Our Lady Queen of Peace NS, Galvone NS, Southill Junior School and St. Enda’s Community School.

The Niall Mellon Township Trust is currently recruiting volunteers for its next Building Blitz from 13th to 20th November 2010 to South Africa.