Coffee morning raises funds for students' trip

THE Greater Chernobyl Cause recently joined forces with EBS Clonakilty to raise funds for project work in Kazakhstan. 

The EBS branch recently hosted a very successful coffee morning  at their premises, raising €300. 

Local bakes, hoteliers, restaurants, shops and the business community generously donated cakes and spot prizes. 

The fundraising idea was conceived by Kate Gibbons, Helen O’Sullivan and colleagues at EBS when two local students from Clonakilty Community College, Mark Keohane and Dylan Barry, visited the EBS and explained how they are embarking on a humanitarian aid trip to Kazakhstan with The Greater Chernobyl Cause. 

The lads have been actively and very successfully raising funds for this trip. The manager of EBS, Kate Gibbons, decided to hold a coffee morning to support the boys. 

‘The Cause offers young people an opportunity to participate in their overseas humanitarian aid programme,’ said Fountainstown woman Fiona Corcoran, the charity’s founder. ‘The benefits to the Irish students include personal and social development, enhanced independence, the achievement of personal challenges, and awareness of local and international political concerns.’

Students visit various projects, meet with local young and elderly people, and see at first-hand the work enabled by their fundraising efforts.

Fiona says the students experience the value of real-time, hands-on support. The travel element of each programme lasts one or more weeks and may take place during the October and February mid-term breaks, at Easter, or at another time that suits both the charity and the students. For more details, contact Fiona Corcoran at 087 9536133.