Immersion 2007

ABBEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL - 2007 - Zambian Immersian Project
ZAMBIA – 'The Seed Is Growing'

Zambia Immersion Project 2007, 21st March - 7th April 2007, Arriving In Lusaka

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On the 21st March 2007, a group of ten students and four teachers from the Abbey Grammar had the life-changing experience of the Zambian Immersion Project, the single most important aspect of the school’s efforts to raise awareness of and combat the problems of the Developing World.

Since the first, groundbreaking immersion in 2002, the Christian Brothers have linked the generosity and compassion of the Abbey with the potential and the need of Christian Brothers schools in Zambia. The Brothers, with four decades of experience in education and charity work in the region, are in a unique position to realise the hopes of those on both sides of the project.

In the two previous expeditions, a total of fifteen students and six teachers have been to Livingstone. The difference this has made to lives, both of privileged and of the needy, cannot be completely appreciated by anyone without first-hand experience of the project’s effects - in fact, the importance of first-hand experience is a fundamental feature of the concept. The hope that the experience of life for the world’s most disadvantaged people will change the outlook of everyone fortunate enough to be involved is the cornerstone of the Immersion. The students return with a renewed energy to work for change (many hope to re-visit Africa in their adult lives), with a deeper understanding of what must be done to bring justice to developing nations, and, in the furthest-reaching effect of the experience, bring their enthusiasm and knowledge into the school and local community. The fundraising efforts for the project meant that the work for the group began months before their journey to Zambia. The team’s key financial aim is to donate at least as much money to local, specific projects in southern Zambia as what was spent on flights and accommodation for them to work there. In this manner, the group are able to provide the most direct possible link between where the money is raised and where the money is needed most. As education is a central aspect of the aims of the Immersion, the community school in Livingstone will hopefully receive significant help.

Some reflections on the Zambian Immersion Experience from the students of the Abbey Grammar School, Newry who were there in March / April, 2007.

They say “Seeing is believing”. In Zambia we saw and we believed. Zambia is a country in great distress and great poverty. We knew going out there that we wouldn’t be able to click our fingers and all this would go away. However we knew going out there for 2 weeks would give us an experience of a lifetime, an experience that will never be forgotten. We were proved right. Our experience of teaching and playing with children, visiting housebound patients and visiting the local general hospital did actually make a small difference to these peoples lives. To see the smiles on their faces brought great satisfaction to the group but for me personally I knew that this is what we were sent out and meant to achieve.

2 weeks on the other side of the world seemed like 2 days. The build up since September, endless meetings, looking at pictures and videos from previous Immersion groups and the attempts of trying to teach proved vital when we were out there. The banter sustained throughout the 26 weeks was incredible. I don’t think anybody would have said that a group of 10 boys, who were completely different and had there own opinions, were going to get on but we achieved this with no arguments or controversy within the 17 days.

“Zambia isn’t just about the poverty and death; there is noise and happiness too”. A quote from a parish priest we had met whilst in Zambia. This was true. Livingstone (where we were situated) has many tourist facilities. It has 1 of the natural wonders of the world, The Victoria Falls, it has a wildlife park, a crocodile park, multiple markets and in one of the neighbouring countries Botswana, has one of the best wildlife parks in Africa. We were lucky to get the chance to visit all these facilities at the weekends.

In conclusion, Zambia is and will probably be one of the best experiences in our lives both educationally and personally. We did see all the despair, the poverty and the sickness but we were also given the chance to see the wonders of Zambia and to see why its countryside is so indescribable.

To finish of with the quote we started with “Seeing is believing” well believe me “We have seen, we have heard and we have listened but most importantly we have lived the African Mission.

Patrick Courtney, Stephen Keeley, Eamon Toner, Jonathan McConville, Sean Kearney, Darragh Dobbin, Conor Bell, Kieran McAteer, Ronan McDonald, Ryan Kearney, Anne Lyng, Mark Grogan, Grace Trainor, Rory McMahon

Abbey pupils have returned home from their incredible journey to Africa telling The Abbey Way that life would never be the same again. Judging by these wonderful images you begin to understand just a little of how they might be feeling. The school Immersion had both a practical and a spiritual dimension and each Abbey student believes that everyone should at some time in their life have the opportunity to be nourished by such a never-to-be-forgotten experience. Below are links to articles detailing the experiences the Zambian Immersion Team gained.

First Step Towards Change

Education - Conor Bell

Education - Ryan Kearney

Health - Patrick Courtney

Health - Eamonn Toner

Tourism - Sean Kearney

History - Jonathan McConville

Personal Reflection - Kieran McAteer

Personal Reflection - Stephen Keeley

Culture - Darragh Dobbin

Culture - Rónan McDonald

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Compound Children

Compound Shop

Libuyu Community School

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Compound

Libuyu Community School

Compound Child

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Chobe Elephant

Chobe

Giraffe

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Linda Community School

Compound Children

Ngwena Community School

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Linda Community School

Linda Community School

Ngwena Community School

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

Sr Francis and Sr Connie

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Linda Community School

St Raphaels CBS

Sunset Over Zambezi

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Zambia Immersion Project 2007

Fr John

Victoria Falls

Sr Shiela and Sr Mary

If you would like any further information, please email us Abbey Zambia Project

Photos

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