Dear Parents/Guardians,
We are delighted to announce that your son/daughter is being offered the exciting opportunity to participate in a 11 day immersion programme in Uganda. The programme is being offered to next year’s 4th and 5th Year students and is being organised in conjunction with the Irish charity Aidlink. This will be the first programme of its kind that Coláiste Dún an Rí has undertaken, and we are thrilled to be in a position to offer this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Participating students will be accompanied by representatives from the charity and three teachers from Coláiste Dún an Rí, Project Coordinator Mr Anthony Mulligan and Assistant Principals Ms Nicola Fox and Mr Dean Gallagher
General information:
Students and teachers will travel to Uganda for approximately 11 days in June 2024.
Aidlink is heavily involved in the organisation of this programme – further information about this charity can be found at www.aidlink.ie. Anne Cleary, the Executive Officer of Aidlink, launched the programme to both year groups on Thursday 19 January and answered many of their questions. Please discuss this with your son/daughter. Information relating to their immersion programme can be found on their website at; https://aidlink.ie/immersion-programme/ as well as pictures and videos.
The purpose of the programme is one of cultural immersion which by its very nature involves students experiencing life in a culture and a context that is very different from their own. This is not an action relief project. Students will be expected to embrace African life with the expectation that it will challenge their emotions and opinions. Attending classes in school with their African peers will be an important aspect of the programme.
Students will stay in the same accommodation as the teachers for the full duration of the visit.
The projected cost of bringing each student to Uganda for the duration of the trip (11 days approximately) will be €2,000 per student and payment will be spread out over the next 16 months. This fee includes flights, accommodation, food, vaccinations, etc. An initial down payment (non-refundable deposit) of €200 will apply with the balance payable monthly (no more than €125/month).
Both individual and group fundraising will be a core element of the programme prior to departure and students/sponsors must be willing to engage in this process as we also need to make a €1’000 per student contribution towards the Aid link charity. This is in addition to the financial contribution outlined above. If individual fundraising, proceeds better than expected, students may be able to use a proportion of this to offset the individual student cost.
More detailed information will be provided in due course but in order to facilitate the planning of the trip, interested students should please complete the attached application form and return it to the school office by 4pm on Monday 20th February 2023. We are encouraging your son/daughter to type his/her application if possible. In addition to the written applications, students will be required to attend an interview.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Anthony Mulligan.
Information and Application Form is attached below.
Yours sincerely
Fergal Boyle
Principal,