Life & Style

Have you a spare jersey? Irish volunteer heading for South Africa plans to bring football shirts for impoverished children

A TEACHER based in Derby is preparing to spend the summer in South Africa educating some of the nation’s most impoverished children as a charity volunteer.

Irish woman Fiona Molumby will spend two weeks in a Cape Town township, teaching at a secondary school built by the Irish humanitarian organisation Mellon Educate.

The students she will teach will often walk an hour to reach the school building, one of 16 built by the charity led by Irish philanthropist Niall Mellon since their educational branch of the organisation was launched in 2013.

Fiona Molumby is heading to South Africa this summer

She now hopes the Irish community worldwide will support her charity work, as she must raise £3200 in order to take the trip.

“I have spent the last few summers volunteering at various sporting events around the world,” she told The Irish Post this week.

“This year I have opted to volunteer teach in South Africa with the Irish humanitarian charity Mellon Educate.

“Now I come to the bit where I ask for your help,” she added.

“This all costs money, £3200 to be precise. I ask you to consider donating to this worthy cause where many children will benefit and teachers will be offered skills for the future - I will be truly appreciative of any offering.

“I am hoping to take an extra suitcase packed with football shirts, as during the learning breaks I plan to organise football matches, so if you have any spare shirts please forward them to me.”

Niall Mellon has organised Building Blitz events in South Africa for many years, bringing volunteers to build homes for the township people.

Their educational initiative, aimed at improving access to education in African townships, has built 16 new schools and renovated many more, providing over 10,000 young children with a better chance at life.