South African ambassador Ms Melanie Verwoerd yesterday visited a special needs school in Cork to personally thank the children for raising funds to support a pupil feeding scheme in Limpopo Province in South Africa.
Ms Verwoerd paid tribute to the pupils of Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Ballincollig - a special needs school under the patronage of the Brothers of Charity - for their efforts in helping the pupils at St Martin's School in Limpopo Province.
"It is very important that children in one part of the world understand the needs of children in places that seem very far away. When I read about the generosity of these Ballincollig children, I wanted to come to thank the teachers, pupils and their parents for their caring," she said.
The principal, Ms Siobhán Allen, told Ms Verwoerd that the idea for the fund-raising came about after intensive and successful lobbying for a state-of-the-art, purpose-build school made staff conscious of how fortunate their pupils were.
"Conscious of our pupils' good fortune, the staff in class two decided that they would do something for pupils who were not so well off, and through contacts with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart on Western Road, it was decided to organise a cake sale." She said the proceeds of the cake sale went to St Martin's School.
Ms Verwoerd presented the children with a hand-crafted badge as a symbol of mother's hope. Profits from the sale of badges will go towards the Lizo Nobnda day care centre for babies and children with HIV/AIDS.
Among those present for yesterday's visit was Father Adrian McHugh, who ministers in Limpopo province, and his colleague, Father Michael O'Connell of the MSC, who presented Ms Allen with a certificate of appreciation for the school's support for MSC humanitarian work.