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I have been here now for
two and a half weeks and I don’t think that there is
anywhere else I would prefer to be at this time.
I am very thankful to all the people in Athboy and
Ráth Chairn who helped me to come here. You were
very generous when I was fundraising and I can never
thank you enough. I would like to tell you about the
voluntary agency called SUAS, about the school
called Gatoto and about the people I have met up to
now.SUAS
Bunaíodh SUAS sa bhliain 2002. Príomh aidhm
an tionscnaimh seo ná forbairt oideachais a dhéanamh in
áiteanna ghéarchéimeacha ina bhfuil easpa áiseanna san
Inde agus in Éirinn agus
i gCéinia.
Kongowea agus Maweni i Mombasa, agus Gatoto i
Nairobi iad na bunscoileanna atá gaolta le SUAS sa
Chéinia. San iomlán, oibríonn SUAS le breis is 5,000
scoláirí i gCéinia chuile lá.
SUAS
SUAS was founded in 2002 and its main aim is to
develop education in disadvantaged areas in India,
Ireland and Kenya. SUAS is involved
in national schools in Kongowea and Maweni in
Mombasa, and Gatoto in Nairobi in Kenya. In total,
SUAS works with more than 5000 students in Kenya
every day.
GATOTO
Gatoto an t-ainm atá ar an scoil ina bhfuilim ag
obair. Bunaíodh an scoil
seo i 1994 agus faoi láthair freastalaíonn breis is
1,000 páistí uirthi. Tá an scoil seo suite i slumaí
Mukuru Kwa Reuben i réigiún tionsclaíocha sa
chathair. Maireann na daoine ar $1 an lae san áit
seo. Ba mhaith le foireann na scoile suíomh
eacnamaíoch an réigiún a chur chun cinn agus bagairt an tinneas HIV a laghdú san áit.
Tá an scoil seo ag fás ó bunaíodh í 13 bliana
ó shin. Tá méad na ndaltaí a fhaigheann na pointí sa
scrúdú KCPE (an Teastas Sóisearach) chun dul ar
aghaidh go meánscoil éigin tar éis fáis ó 27 go 48.
Tá obair den scoth ag dul ar aghaidh sna grúpaí
éagsúla taobh amuigh de na ranganna m.sh. An Chór,
An Grúpa Drámaíochta agus foireann peile na
mbuachaillí agus na gcailíní. Tá chuid mhór de na
páistí páirteach sna himeachtaí seo. Bíonn ar
George, garraíodóir na scoile, na páistí a rith
amach ón scoil ag 5 chlog gach lá. Ní bhíonn fonn
orthu imeacht ón scoil!
Is mór an trua nach bhfuil Rialtas na tíre ag
tabhairt tacaíochta ar bith do Gatoto agus scoileanna
mar í, cé go bhfuil Bunoideachas Saor geallta acu.
Faigheann Gatoto 90% dá chuid airgead tacaíochta ó
eagraíochtaí deonacha ar nós SUAS agus ‘The Denis
O’Brien Foundation’. Ní chosnaíonn sé ach €150 i
n-aghaidh na bliana chun dalta a choimeád i Gatoto
gach bliain.
Bunscoil Gatoto
School Population: 980 Families below Poverty
Line: 56%
Average Pupil Enrolment in area: 30%
Gatoto Student Retention Rate: 98.6%
Má tá suim agat níos mó a fháil amach faoi
Gatoto is féidir leat logáil isteach ar shuíomh
idirlín na scoile ar http://www.gatoto.org/index.html
GATOTO
I am working in GATOTO School. This school was
founded in 1994 and has more than 1000 children
enrolled at present. The school is in the Mukuru Kwa Reuben slums in an
industrial part of the city. The people here live on
$1 a day. The school aims to develop the economy of
the area and to help to lessen the threat of AIDS.
This school is growing for the past 13 years. The
numbers of pupils who get sufficient points in the
KCPE exam (junior cert) and go on to a secondary
school; has risen from 27% to 48%. There is
marvellous work being done with groups outside of
the classes, for example, the Choir, Drama group and
girls and boys football teams. Many of the children
are involved in these activities. George, the school
gardener has to run the children out of the school
art 5 0’clock every day. They don’t want to leave
the school!
It is a pity that the government of the country is
giving no assistance to Gatoto and other such
schools, despite promising free education. Gatoto
gets 90% of its funding from voluntary organisations
such as SUAS and ‘The Denis O’Brien Foundation’. It
only costs €150 a year to keep a student at school
in Gatoto..
Bunscoil Gatoto
School Population: 980 Families below
Poverty Line: 56%
Average Pupil Enrolment in area: 30%
Gatoto Student Retention Rate: 98.6%
Have a look at the school site -
http://www.gatoto.org/index.html
Na Daoine a bhuail mé leo go dtí seo
Chomh maith le m’fhoireann fhéin amuigh anseo, tá
aithne curtha agam ar mhuintir na hÉireann ag an UN.
Is deas an rud é go bhfuil na daoine seo ag obair sa
chathair tríd na bliaina ar fad.
Ach chas mé le slua níos éifeachtaí ná na
hÉireannaigh trí Gatoto. Sin iad an príomhoide
Mister Oloo agus na múinteoirí sa scoil. D’oscail
said a gcuid seomraí ranga dúinn. Bhí amhráin,
féasta agus cluichí bheaga eagraithe acu dúinn don
chéad lá sa scoil. Tá meas mhór agam orthu ós rud é
go roinneann said scéalta deacra linn; míníonn said
cúrsaí sóisialta na háite dúinn. Is léir go bhfuil
meas éigin acu orainn, ach ní dóigh liom gur thoill
muid an meas sin go hiomlán go fóill. Foghlaimeoidh
mé faoi cheird na múinteoireachta agus faoi
réimse leathan nithe eile de bharr mo theagmhála
leo!
Tá triúr de na múinteoirí ann faoi láthair mar
iar-scoláirí de Gatoto.
In ainneoin na deacrachtaí, fuair siad oiliúnt tríú
léibhéal. Is breá liom é seo a fheiceáil, mar feicim
go bhfuil bóthar leagtha amach acu do na daltaí sa
scoil faoi láthair. |
The people I have been
with up to now:
As well as our own team out here I have got to know
other Irish out here with the UN. Its great that
these people are working here in the city throughout
the year.
But more important than the Irish, I have met with
the Principal teacher an tUasal Oloo and the
teachers in the school who have opened their
classrooms to us. There was singing, parties and
games organised for us on our first day in the
school. I have great respect for them and they tell
us of the social problems of the area. They seem to
have great respect for us although I don’t think
that we earned it very much so far. I will learn a
lot about teaching and a lot else besides from the
contact with these people. Three of the teachers
currently in the school are past pupils of Gatoto.
This is great to see and they have shown the way for
the pupils in the school at present.
Mo chuid oibre anseo
Tá dáréag mac léinn ollscoile i mo ghrúpa tagtha le
chéile chun tacaíocht phraiticiúil a thabhairt don scoil seo ar feadh 10 seachtaine den samhradh.
Beirt Éireannach le haghaidh chuile leibhéal ó 3 (7&8 bliana
d’aois) suas. Tá Conor, buachaill ó Bhéal Feirste,
agus mé féin gafa le 4a&b (aois-réim 9-11). Tá
timpeall 55 dalta i chuile sheomra ranga. Bímse ag
plé le Mata, Béarla, Eolaíocht, Coirpeachachas agus
na hAmharcealaíona i 4a an chuid is mó den lá. Uaireanta bíonn an rang agam i m’aonair más rud go
bhfuil obair bhreise le déanamh ag na múinteoirí don
cheacht sin. Ní bhíonn dóthain ama acu i rith na
bliana chun déileáil le páipéarachas an phoist, ós
rud é go bhfuil an méid sin paistí acu an t-am ar
fad.My work here:
In my group, 12 university students have come
together to give practical support to the school for
10 weeks of the summer. There are 2 irish assigned
to every level from 3-11 years of age. Conor from
Belfast and myself look after the age group 9-11.
There are about 55 students in every classroom. We
look after maths, English, science, P.E. and drama
all day. Sometimes I take the class on my own if the
teachers need to do extra lessons with the class.
They don’t have enough time during the year to deal
with paperwork because they have so many children in
each class.
Cabhraíonn muid ar bhealaí eile taobh amuigh den
seomra ranga freisin:
Tá diancheachtanna (grinds) ar bun againn do chuid
de leibhéal 8 (daltaí ag suí an scrúdú KCPE i
mbliana).
Tá beirt chailín den ghrúpa ag cabhrú leis an
ghrúpa drámaíochta, agus cailín eile ag caitheamh ama
leis An Chór iontach atá sa scoil. Beidh an dá
ghrúpa seo ag glacadh páirt i gcomórtais réigiúnacha
ag deireadh na seachtaine seo chugainn.
Tá beirt bhuachaill ag traenáil le
foireann peile na mbuachaillí agus foireann peile
chailíní na scoile.
Tá mé féin agus buachaill eile den ghrúpa, Colin,
ag plé le ‘Talents Battle’ na scoile. Beidh chuile
rang briste suas de réir 5 catagóirí ag braith ar an
ábhar lena bhfuil fadhb faoi leith ag an dalta. Ar
an chaoi seo beidh sé ar chumas an mhúinteora díriú
isteach ar an ngrúpa de thimpeall deichniúr seo chun
cabhair cheart a thabhairt dóibh i mBéarla mar
shampla, fad is atá Éireannach ag múineadh an ranga
iomláin Béarla. Ní bhíonn deis ag múinteoirí díriú
isteach ar na daltaí seo de ghnáth i rang de 55.
Ós rud é go bhfuil Nairobi suite faoin Mheanchiorcal,
beidh briseadh gheimhridh acu i Meán Fómhair. Beidh
campaí samhradh á n-eagrú againn i rith na hama seo.
Táim ag tnúth go mór leo siúd freisin. Ba mhaith
liom turais scoile taobh amuigh de na slumaí a
eagrú. Tá páirceanna agus zúanna iontacha i Nairobi,
ach ní minic a fheiceann na daltaí seo áilleacht a
dtír fhéin.
Má tá níos mó ceisteanna agat faoin tionscnamh seo,
tá fáilte romhat fiche ceist a chuir orm nuair a
fhillim ag deireadh Mí Mheán Fómhair, nó is féidir
leat eolas a fháil ón eagraíocht deonach SUAS (CHY
14931) ar www.suas.ie
Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh sult as an tsamhradh.
Tá samhradh den scoth leagtha amach romhamsa. Mo
bhuíochas daoibhse as ucht bhúr dtacaíocht arís!
We help in other ways outside of the classroom as
well:
We give grinds to level 8 students (those
preparing to sit their KCPE exam this year).
Two other girls are helping with drama and another
girl; is helping with the excellent school choir.
Both of these groups will be taking part in the
regional competitions at the end of next week.
Two of the lads are helping to train the boys and
girls school football team.
Colin and myself are organising the ‘School
Talents battle.’ Every class is split into five
categories, depending on if they have a problem with
any particular subject. This means that the teacher
can home in on 10 pupils approx and help them with
English for example, while an Irish student is
teaching English to the rest of the class. This
special attention doesn’t happen usually in classes
of 55 pupils.
Since Nairobi is situated below the Equator they
will have their winter holiday in September. We will
be organising summer camps during that time and I am
looking forward to that. I would like to organise
schools tours outside of the slums. There are lovely
parks and Zoos in Nairobi but these children do not
often see the beauty of their own country.
If you would like to find out more about this
project you are welcome to ask me 20 questions when
I return in September or you can learn more about
the voluntary organisation SUAS (CHY 14931) on
www.suas.ie
I hope you enjoy your summer. I’m going to have a
great summer. Thanks again for everything.
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An
Bhfuil do Ghairdín ag fás?
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Is Your Garden growing? |
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Tá lán an bhoird anseo – seo
gach rud a bhí réidh le baint i dtús Mhí
Lúnasa. Nach maith ann iad. Agus smaoinigh
ar a bhfuil le theacht isteach go fóill –
beidh na trátaí ag tosú go luath agus beidh
na Leeks, Meáchan Bána, Sprouts, Broccoli,
Kale agus Cabáiste ag fanacht sa talamh don
Fhómhair agus don gheimhreadh.
Faoin am sin beidh an dá chineál pónaire, na
písíní agus an beetroot sa reoiteoir. Beidh
na h-ionúin agus an ghairleog ag crochadh sa
scioból.
Céard faoi na fátaí a cuireadh sa mbarréille?
Arbh fhiú é?
Bhfuil féach ar an chéad agus an dara
pictúir. Bhí fátaí
breátha ann go cinnte, ach ní raibh an
oiread ann is a shíl mé a bheadh ann de réir
mar a bhí léite agam. Bhí beagán os cionn
leathchloch ann ar fad. Ceapaim gur fearr
iad a chur sa talamh, sin mura bhfuil agat
ach clós. – Ach bhí siad go h-álainn! |
Look at this full table of
vegetables, all this was ready in the first
week of August. Isn’t it well to have them.
And think of all that is to come in the
coming months - the tomatoes will be ready
soon, Leeks, Parsnips, Sprouts, Kale and
Cabbage will all stay in the ground during
Autumn and Winter.
By that time both types of beans, peas and
beetroot will be in the freezer. The onions
and garlic will be hanging in the shed.
What of the potatoes in the barrel? Was it
worth it?
Have a look at the first and the middle picture? They were
great potatoes but there wasn’t as many as I
had read about. There was a little over a
half stone. I think its best to plant into
the ground, unless you have just a yard. But
they were lovely!
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Leabhar
nua d’fhoghlaimeoirí
Taibhsí an Locha, le hAntain Mac
Lochlainn, foilsithe ag Cló Iar Chonnachta |
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Ón Bhrollach...
''Tar éis do teacht slán as
drochthimpiste cairr, éiríonn John
Grayling, fear gnó agus millúnaí, as
a chuid oibre lena scíth a ligean
ina sheanteach mór faoin tuath. Ach
ní fada go gcloiseanna sé fuaimeanna
aisteacha agus go bhfeiceann sé
radharcanna níos aistí fós, i lár na
hoíche agus i lár an lae. Cé hí ‘An
Bhean Ghlas’ sa phortráid úd ar an
mballa? Agus cé hé ‘An Bráthair Bán’?
Agus, cén teachtaireacht atá acu dho?
Le cabhair óna dheirfiúr, Jackie,
agus a cara siúd, Brenda, scoláirí
beirt, nochtann siad rún scanrúil
Theach an Lochra.''
Tá an leabhar
seo, Taibhsí an Locha ar fáil anois
ag
cloiar@iol.ie
www.cic.ie |
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