A night at the Musicals

9th May 2011

A packed house enjoyed a night at the musicals in Lurgan Town Hall on Saturday 7th May. The evening entertainment was organised by Sinead Owen who had travelled to Mukuru as a member of Team 2010. Sinead was moved by the plight of the street boys and when she learned that fopur of her friends had lost their homes in the recent fire, she was determined to do something to help. Supported by her many friends in the world of theatre, music and dance, Sinead and her friend Nicole McKeown organised a night of true entertainment for all musical enthusiasts. Extracts from many well known musicals such as West Side Story, Les Miserables, Hairspray, Phantom and Jesus Christ Superstar were performed.  The audience was treated to a well balanced programme of song and dance. The support team worked hard behind stage to provide an experience that was truly professional in every way. Sinead and her team earned the respect of the audience for the quality of the production as well as her determination to do all she could to help build a better life for the street boys of Mukuru.

Year 11 Sponsored Walk

5th May 2011

As part of their fund raising efforts for Mukuru, Year 11 students took part in a sponsored walk around Lurgan Park.  Those students who made an effort with their fundraising were rewarded with a tshirt.  Members of 11E are seen in the photograph wearing their tshirts.  The sponsored walk proved to be a great fundraiser for year11.  Congratulations to all the students for participating in the event and for their fundraising efforts on behalf of Mercy Mission to Mukuru

Aaron runs Marathon for Mukuru

5th May 2011

Congratulations to Aaron Toland a yr14 student, for his very commendable time of 3hrs 45 mins in completing the Belfast marathon on 2nd May 2011.  Aaron and his brother Cathal were among the 21,000 competitors who took part in what was a very challenging race, because of the unusually warm weather on the day.  They ran the marathon to raise money in support of the Mukuru project in St Michael’s.  Aaron was one of the students who participated in the 2010 visit to the slums of Mukuru. Aaron was delighted to complete his first marathon for this worthy cause.  He would like to acknowledge and thank all those people who sponsored him.

 

 

 

Mukuru challenge in the Mournes

18th April 2011

This year a group of thirty Year 12 students and five teachers took on a new challenge to raise funds for the Mukuru project.  They spent a day hiking in the Mourne Mountains.  The highlight was the ascent of Slieve Donard, the highest peak in the Mournes.  The group was blessed with great weather for the challenge.   They pitched tent at Meelmore Lodge at the Trassey Way and spent the night under the stars.  It was a very enjoyable experience for all those who participated and it proved to be an excellent fundraising activity.  Well done to all those who took part.

Lenten Campaign

6th April 2011

The St Michael students have been involved in various fundraising events.  The annual record breakers witnessed new records being set by the Year 14 students in many of the challenges.  The annual “I am a teacher get me out of here” hosted by 14F was again a great success, with a packed audience the staff for the second year saw of the challenge of the students with Mr Brunt retaining his title.                                                        Cakes, toasty sandwiches, sweets, mix ups, sausage rolls have all raised money through various sales at break time in the assembly hall.  Various raffles including a Mothers day basket and Easter baskets are taking place.  During the last two weeks students will participate in a number of sponsored events: walks, a welly walk and fun run.  The annual Take Me Out has been pencilled in for the last week with Family Fortunes a new event this year.  The campaign will conclude with the presentation of monies by form classes and the annual Talent show.

Year 14 Bed Push

5th April 2011

The Year 14 students turned out in style on Thursday 31st March for their annual bed push to raise money for Mukuru.  The students were superbly dressed in their fancy dress outfits and spent some time collecting money in school before heading for Lurgan town centre.  The students worked tirelessly for two hours before their return journey back to St Michaels at 6pm.  Well done to all those students involved.

 

 

Fire in the Mukuru Slums

9th March 2011

MMM were alarmed to learn of a very serious fire that has broken out recently in the Mukuru slums close to St Catherine’s Primary School.  5,000 corrugated huts had been destroyed and all the families who live there have been made homeless.  Students who visited Mukuru in June 2010 were alarmed to see some of the pupils they taught among the ruins of the slums.  Fire is a serious hazard in Mukuru. Because of the density of the housing and the lack of proper roads, fire services have no access to the slums.  When a fire starts it can gain hold very quickly and do great damage.  MMM intends to make a financial contribution to an emergency fund to help those worst effected by the fire.

Mukuru Support Dinner

8th March 2011

Staff and friends of St. Michael’s enjoyed a great night at Clenaghans, Aghalee on 2nd March in support of the Mercy Mission to Mukuru, 2011. A capacity crowd enjoyed a fabulous 3 course dinner and were then entertained by a local Bluegrass band (with some guest vocalists from the staff!). A raffle was also held with a great array of prizes including a piece of authentic African art won by our English teacher Miss O’Hara, and dinner for two and overnight stay in Clenaghans luxurious chalets won by our librarian Mrs McDonald. Special thanks to the hosts Mr & Mrs Downing and their staff who worked hard to ensure everybody had an enjoyable and memorable evening.

Academic Reports

17th January 2011

Mercy Mission to Mukuru was delighted to receive the academic reports of the 11 students who have completed their first year of full time education.  St Michael’s sponsorship programme began in January 2010.  15 students from the Rehabilitation programme in Mukuru were offered the opportunity to continue their education in boarding schools in and around Nairobi.  11 students successfully completed the year and they will now progress to a second year of education.  The image expresses the gratitude of one student James Mbindyo for the opportunity he has been given.  Four more students will be joining the programme as we continue our sponsorship for another year.  MMM believes that the best way to a better future for the street boys of Mukuru is through education.  We are delighted to see that the majority of our sponsored boys are making good progress and are grateful for the opportunity which is available to them.  We wish them well in their studies in the year ahead.

Mukuru Team 2011

17th November 2010

There was a great sense of excitement when the selection of students and staff to travel to Mukuru in June 2011 was announced recently. As usual there were a huge number of applications. In June 2011, twenty students will travel with four members of staff, to experience for themselves the realities of life in an African shanty town. During their time in Nairobi, students and staff will be working in support of the Sisters of Mercy who are based in the Mukuru Promotion Centre. They will have an opportunity to work with the children of St Catherine’s Primary School in Mukuru and the street boys who are based in the rehabilitation centre in Mukuru.

Bag packing at Tesco

9th November 2010

On Sunday 31st October 2010, 15 Mukuru students spend a busy afternoon bag packing in Tesco’s Lurgan branch to raise funds for MMM.  As it was Halloween, business was brisk and the students were kept busy with a constant stream of customers passing through the till points.  The students were well rewarded for their efforts.  We would like to thank Tesco Lurgan  and their customers for allowing us this opportunity to begin our fundraising for Mukuru 2011

Mukuru Immersion Visit 2010

29th September 2010

A team of twenty students and five members of staff have recently returned from a 10 day visit to Mukuru, the slum district of the Kenyan capital.  During the visit the staff and students spent time with the children of St Catherine's PS in Mukuru and the boys of the Mary Immaculate Rehabilitation Centre.  The team was overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome from the local community and their willingness to share their lives and experiences with us.  The plight of the street boys has been of special interest to the students of St Michaels.  In the last three year we have raised £75,000 to fund the building of the residential center which was opened in 2009. We were interested in seeing how the 70 boys had settled into their new accommodation and whether it had made a difference to their lives.

The group had the opportunity to walk through the slums and speak with the local people.  This is an area of Nairobi which foreigners are not usually welcomed. Few would venture unaccompanied into the slum districts because of the dangers associated with it.  It is a testament to the success of the Mukuru project that we are given full access to the Mukuru slums so that we can saw at first hand, the reality of poverty for the 800,000 people estimated to live there

The FIFA world cup was staged on the African continent for the first time in June 2010.  We wanted to bring a little joy to the school children and the street boys by giving each of them a football top.  With the help of the local community we were able to collect over 1,000 football tops which we distributed to the excited and grateful children and young people.  We could not have done this without the help of all our supporters to whom we are deeply thankful.  We also brought books and school supplies which were very much appreciated by the staff and pupils of St Catherine's PS and St Michael's Secondary school.

Click here for 2010 Gallery.