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Fr.Tony Coote Haiti Memorial Project
0% complete
€20,938 raised of €40K
108 donations
Hi Everyone,
My name is Patrick O'Neill and I am the Chairperson of Soley Haiti, an NGO I co-founded in 2018. Fr.Tony was one of my closest friends and so many of us will have witnessed the inspirational courage with which he approached his battle with Motor Neuron Disease before eventually passing away in August 2019.
Tony's work has reached those in most need all around Ireland but equally it has made an incredible difference to the most vulnerable in society all around the world. Those of us who were blessed enough to call ourselves friends of Tony will know the extremely special place Haiti and its people held in his heart.
During the months of lockdown post March 2020 and as we approached Tony's first anniversary in August 2020 I found myself thinking of Tony more than ever. I began to think more and more that the best way we as a charity could honour Tony, his memory and his work was a project in Haiti in his name.
What we want to do is build a 'Fr.Tony wing' of four additional classrooms in a local school in which Tony worked, L'Ekol Jezi Mari' - the Jesus & Mary School. Poverty is at its most extreme in rural communities - the school is located in a community called Fon Ibo which is in an isolated part of the village of Gros Morne, which in itself in an isolated rural village in the North West of Haiti.
Currently the school can only accommodate students up to 6th Grade (6th class in the Irish system. Fewer than 30% of children in Haiti reach the 6th grade, with secondary schools enrolling fewer than 20% of eligible age children.
The 'Fr.Tony wing' will allow for the first time in the Fon Ibo community for children to complete 7th, 8th and 9th grade. It will also help to alleviate the pressure in terms of numbers and space as it currently stands in the school - for example 1st grade currently has 102 students enrolled. The objective is for the project to be completed in the summer months of 2021.
We are asking our supporters and their families and friends, between the dates of March 26th - April 12th, to run, walk, or jog 5km in aid of the Fr. Tony Coote Haiti Memorial Project. Our objective is to reach 50% of our total fundraising target with the 5km Fun Run (€20,500) so that two of the four classrooms can be built in Summer 2021. Donations are of course gratefully received at anytime!
We would be incredibly grateful for any support you can give to this project by either 1) Donating whatever you can on the page 2) Sharing the page on your social media, whats app groups etc or 3) Both.
Please be assured that in doing so you are truly changing the lives of the most vulnerable in Haitian society and allowing them access to their best possible chance of a better future for themselves - a chance that exists through education. I can think of no better way that we could all honour Fr.Tony and ensure his legacy and name lives on in the hearts and minds of the Haitian people for generations to come.
Thank you.
Patrick O'Neill
Chairperson
Soley Haiti
My name is Patrick O'Neill and I am the Chairperson of Soley Haiti, an NGO I co-founded in 2018. Fr.Tony was one of my closest friends and so many of us will have witnessed the inspirational courage with which he approached his battle with Motor Neuron Disease before eventually passing away in August 2019.
Tony's work has reached those in most need all around Ireland but equally it has made an incredible difference to the most vulnerable in society all around the world. Those of us who were blessed enough to call ourselves friends of Tony will know the extremely special place Haiti and its people held in his heart.
During the months of lockdown post March 2020 and as we approached Tony's first anniversary in August 2020 I found myself thinking of Tony more than ever. I began to think more and more that the best way we as a charity could honour Tony, his memory and his work was a project in Haiti in his name.
What we want to do is build a 'Fr.Tony wing' of four additional classrooms in a local school in which Tony worked, L'Ekol Jezi Mari' - the Jesus & Mary School. Poverty is at its most extreme in rural communities - the school is located in a community called Fon Ibo which is in an isolated part of the village of Gros Morne, which in itself in an isolated rural village in the North West of Haiti.
Currently the school can only accommodate students up to 6th Grade (6th class in the Irish system. Fewer than 30% of children in Haiti reach the 6th grade, with secondary schools enrolling fewer than 20% of eligible age children.
The 'Fr.Tony wing' will allow for the first time in the Fon Ibo community for children to complete 7th, 8th and 9th grade. It will also help to alleviate the pressure in terms of numbers and space as it currently stands in the school - for example 1st grade currently has 102 students enrolled. The objective is for the project to be completed in the summer months of 2021.
We are asking our supporters and their families and friends, between the dates of March 26th - April 12th, to run, walk, or jog 5km in aid of the Fr. Tony Coote Haiti Memorial Project. Our objective is to reach 50% of our total fundraising target with the 5km Fun Run (€20,500) so that two of the four classrooms can be built in Summer 2021. Donations are of course gratefully received at anytime!
We would be incredibly grateful for any support you can give to this project by either 1) Donating whatever you can on the page 2) Sharing the page on your social media, whats app groups etc or 3) Both.
Please be assured that in doing so you are truly changing the lives of the most vulnerable in Haitian society and allowing them access to their best possible chance of a better future for themselves - a chance that exists through education. I can think of no better way that we could all honour Fr.Tony and ensure his legacy and name lives on in the hearts and minds of the Haitian people for generations to come.
Thank you.
Patrick O'Neill
Chairperson
Soley Haiti