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Fundraising continues for African charity

THE Kilkenny-based charity Kilimanjaro Direct is continuing its drive to raise funds for the construction of a new school in a remote part of Tanzania. Construction on the project has already begun in the town of Moshi, at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, with significant progress reported.

Through the charity has previously funded the construction of seven houses for local families, as well as providing basic food and funding the education of local children, its efforts have been concentrated on the construction of the school, in the belief that such a project will bring about long-term and sustained improvements to the population of the area.

Sheila Ryan, a music teacher in Presentation Secondary School and the driving force behind the charity, recently visited the area to survey the ongoing building works, and returned with photos and videos showing the extent of the site and the progress being made. She was accompanied on her visit by Fr Peter Muldowney, formerly of St John’s and Thomastown parishes.

Local singer-songwriter Ger Mulvey has released a CD in aid of the project. The ‘Holding Out For You’ CD, featuring 11 tracks written by Mulvey and another local teacher, Frances Cotter, is on sale for €10 in Essaness on Kieran Street, or directly from glmulvey@gmail.com. All proceeds from the album’s sales go directly to charity.

Meanwhile, a group of local children from Maiden Hill on the Kells Road recently held a cake and bookmark sale in raise funds for the project, earning €150 for the charity. The charity wish to thank the children involved – Sophie, Lucy, Tom and Andrew Mason; Emma, Rachel and Gary Moore; Katie and Niall Byrne; and Casey, Conor and Alex Lalor – for their efforts.

Charity volunteers will be fundraising through bag-packing and carol singing at various locations around the city in the coming weeks, while a sale of original African old paintings and batik fabrics takes place in the Ormonde Hotel this Saturday from noon to 5pm.