Running for Focus Ireland!
What better expression of our Spiritan ethos than watching our Sixth Form leaders coordinate, create and organise our annual Focus Ireland Fun Run. This is a ‘boys’ own event from start to finish.
Throughout this week I have been showing some classes the story of The Little Matchgirl by Hans Christian Anderson– a poignant, sad story that although set over 150 years ago still has a significant message today. When reading and watching the story we never find out the name of this little girl. However, we are all struck by the hardship of the conditions outside and the fact that she must sell matches to strangers in order to give her parents the money for food and fuel. In the end, she is forced to sleep outside and is taken away from the cold and hardship by her recently deceased Grandmother who loved her deeply. All the boys who watch the short 5-minute clip always state that it was a very sad ending.
The Little Matchgirl
Nonetheless, this hardship experienced over 150 years ago is still happening today with many Irish families homeless. This is the reason why I then show the boys the short 3-minute film on the work of Focus Ireland – as the money we will raise on this special afternoon will make a real difference to families and children in Dublin and beyond.
Focus Ireland
Therefore, I invite all parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters along to our annual Focus Ireland Fun Run on Tuesday the 18th of December. For those parents attending, they can bring their sons home after their class fun run finishes. Remaining boys get to stay on and support. I promise that the experience will be a ‘win/win’ in allowing the boys to find expression for their desire to support others and improve their world. They will learn that communal action can be a powerful tool for positive change and that they themselves can do just that- not ‘others’, not the ‘government’, not the significant ‘adults’ in their lives - but their own generation!
This message from the Principal is an extract from the Willow Weekly Newsletter - to keep up with all the latest news on the Willow Campus view this week's edition