?Global Citizenship Project? 10th Anniversary
Ten years ago, in January, 2007, two members of staff from Lawside Academy in Dundee, Scotland, travelled to India to establish contact with the Marist Brothers in Mangamanuthu and Trichy. The aim was to find ways of offering assistance to the Brothers in their work with the Dalits in the village of Mangamanuthu and the Rainbow Project, set up to care for mothers and children suffering from HIV.
Since that initial visit, a relationship was established and help was offered in a great many areas, thanks to the wonderful cooperation of the staff, pupils, parents and friends of the two Catholic secondary schools in Dundee (St John’s RC High School and St Paul’s RC Academy) and other Scottish primary schools, to support the students in the Brothers’ schools in India, to build houses for local people, and to set up care for mothers and children suffering from HIV / AIDS.
On 6th February, 2017, a mass was held in St. Peter and Paul’s R.C. Church in Dundee to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this important project. It was also an opportunity for those involved in the project, the Diocese of Dunkeld, and the Catholic schools in Dundee to thank Brother Douglas Welsh for his work in the Diocese and the schools during the past thirty years. Bishop Stephen Robson presided at the mass and presented the Dunkeld Diocesan medal to Brother Douglas, in the presence of the Lord Provost of Dundee, and the local City Councillor. Fiona McLagan, the head teacher of St John’s High School, and Theresa Little, the head teacher of St Paul’s Academy, were present, along with the living former head teachers of both schools. There were also many members of staff from the two secondary schools and the primary schools involved in the Global Citizenship project, friends, members of Brother Douglas’ family, and Gerry Devlin and Angela Ferrier from Kinharvie Institute in Glasgow, and Aisling Demaison, the Director of Marist Education for the Province of West-Central Europe. Brother Brendan Geary, Provincial, who taught in Dundee from 1982 – 1985, was also present.
It was a wonderful, heartwarming, and very Marist occasion. Many people remained afterwards for a reception where they were able to meet, share memories, and look forward to ways of continuing the Marist spirit in the schools, and to ensure that the project can continue to benefit the people in India and the staff and young people in Dundee.
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Br. Brendan Geary
www.indiavillageproject.co.uk
