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Principal to volunteer at refugee camp

February 25, 2016

Carmel Nic Airt, a principal on leave from Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin in Clonakilty, is going to volunteer at Leros Refugee Camp in Greece.

The camp is home to scores of Syrian men, women and children who have arrived in rubber dinghies from Turkey.

Carmel is going for a three-week period at the end of February, where she will volunteer by helping refugees off boats, cooking and other duties.

The principal will be paying her own fare and all her own expenses personally, but hopes to raise some much-needed money before she leaves to donate towards a food kitchen.

In the refugee camp, €10,000 will feed 1,200 people for 90 days. Carmel has started a fundraising drive and with some friends already has a number of events organised which she hopes the public will support.

On 1 February, ‘Skip for Syria’ will take place in a number of primary schools in the West Cork area.

The skipathon starts at 11am to welcome the first day of spring and encourages the idea of children helping children.

On 6 February, there will be an afternoon tea and cake sale at Bealad Community Centre (the old national school) from 2.30-5pm.

9 February will see ‘Let’s Sing for Syria’, a gala concert at Fernhill House Hotel featuring the Clonakilty Brass Band, Cork School of Music Wind Ensemble, Hannah Collins, Fiona Kelleher, Jim Murray, Eugene Brosnan, Mattie Gordon and other local artists.

There will be a coffee morning held on 10 February in Baltimore from 11-2pm.

On 12 February, local secondary school students will be asked to donate the price of a Valentine’s Day card for ‘Have a Heart for Syria’.

O’Donovan’s Hotel will be hosting ‘A Taste of Syria’ which features food, poetry, music and art from the Middle East, on 16 February and this will start at 7.30pm.

On 23 February, there will be a celebrity table quiz at Scannell’s with celebrities sending in 10 questions each.

Check the ‘Island To Island’ Facebook page regularly for updates or contact Carmel on 087-4445310.

www.corkindependent.com