Speech by Minister of State Pat Carey at the Friends in Ireland and Portmarnock CS Project South Africa
Nelson Mandela in his inauguration speech in 1994 as President of South Africa said……
“we must together and without delay, begin to build a better life for all South Africans”
We are all very conscious of the great difficulties that face the people of South Africa and how as a society it struggles with the harsh realities of HIV /AIDS. In particular we are mindful of the many thousands of children left orphaned. In villages and towns where children play funerals as an every day game we can not help but be moved to come to their aid.
The project which you support tonight brings not just hope but also a practical support for children in The Eastern Cape of South Africa. I am very impressed by the extraordinary success of this project on many fronts. To see a school and its teachers, pupils and the wider community come together to alleviate such suffering is inspirational. I am informed that it has received mention in The South African parliament. In a short period you have you have put in place an infrastructure of feeding centers and orphan houses that will save many lives. Your project today feeds over 600 orphans twice a day. You have donated almost €250,000 to date. I would like to commend John and Marian and Portmarnock Community School for the success of this partnership.
Transition Year is one of the great successes of The Irish Education system and a project such as yours is a wonderful example of education taking young men and women to a point of inspiration that will leave an indelible mark on their minds and hearts. The all embracing aspect to your project of music, dance, IT, education, child care, medical and dental care and construction is indicative of your empathy for the people your support. I am impressed by the fact that you have a two way process to your project. I am impressed by the hosting of two ladies from The Eastern Cape for18 months doing child care studies and child care work in Portmarnock. Your school initiative hosting an African artist in residence Kenneth for a 6 week period last year and this year and next year you will host two more teachers. This mutual respect and appreciation of what we can bring to each other is very healthy. In your construction programme your employment of local people is a very positive and inclusive initiative.
The support of local businesses and Fingal Chamber to such a project is to be commended. In particular I would like to pay tribute to Francis Whelan and his company Whelan Corcoran and Smith Architects for their generous support. I am aware how generous they have been on many fronts to this project. To Fingal Chamber and its President Andrew O’Neill; it is very encouraging to see an organization take such an active role in such a worthy cause, so to you and your organization well done.
Marian Finucane is one of Ireland’s best known broadcasters who has highlighted social injustice and encouraged social change for many years. With the charity Friends in Ireland, she, along with John Clarke and Mary Corbally have been offering hope and dignity to orphans in Africa.
Marian knows the power of politics but she also knows the Power of the Citizen. She knows the power of the everyday heroes and tonight is a celebration of just that - of vision, courage, and generosity – A celebration of volunteering in Ireland. John and Marian, I would like to congratulate you both for your generosity, for how you have facilitated such a wonderful initiative.
As a public representative it is an honour to share in such a good news story. I want to wish you well in South Africa next February. To Pat O’Riordan principal to the teachers, parents, and pupils of Portmarnock Community School can I say well done; we are very proud of your efforts and how you represent not just yourselves but your country in such an important role.
To conclude Nelson Mandela once described South Africa as “ the rainbow nation”, and we know how the people of South Africa dance and how they sing and how they smile despite the poverty and I have no doubt that your efforts will bring colour to the lives of many orphan children well into the future.