I went home for Christmas and could not believe peoples generosity. Everyone knew that I was in Lesotho from reading the Grapevine but I didn’t expect the massive effort people put in to help raise funds. Bantry Golf Club held a competition where they raised money that will be used here to electrify a primary school. We have been doing a lot of work with this primary school, St. Monica’s but there is still a lot of work to be done. Getting electricity to the school was on the top of our priority list and now we’re starting the building of 20 toilets for the 1500 students that attend the school.
The biggest surprise was the initiative, hard work and money raised by the people of Kilcrohane. From such a small community there came so much – Last summer they walked the Sheep’s Head way and again on St Stephen’s day they took to the hills to walk off the Christmas dinner and raise a massive E1652. I even managed to do the walk and was so thankful that the weather was good as the scenery there is amazing. Over 130 walkers showed up on the day and after were treated to homemade soup, sandwiches, mince pies and drinks at the White House to help us put the pounds back on! I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone for their hard work in organising a great day and great food. Also that day the road bowlers walked the roads around Kilcrohane with Charlie Donovan at the head to raise E230.
When I arrived back to Maputsoe I found that unlike Ireland in January the place was buzzing with people. Families coming back after their Christmas away, students getting ready for school and the factories opening again after their break.
Before Christmas the students had broken up for their holidays and in the newly built resource centre we held a weeklong summer camp for the children of Maputsoe village. On day one we were shocked to find almost 100 kids had showed up. We struggled to do games and art stuff with them before we called it a day and ran out to get more supplies for the growing numbers the next day. Most days we found that after the first burst of energy where we played games and matches we wore them out enough to settle them down for painting and drawing. In the evenings they were all given a meal, a treat of fruit and sent home with full bellies!
We had three Irish volunteers here to help. We tried to split the group so that the older kids, who would normally be taking care of the younger ones, got a chance to play. One of our volunteers, Paddy, got the older kids to write, direct and perform a drama which was then filmed and is now being edited to show to the group and kids of the same age at home. 
The sun is beating down here but I can’t hide away from it as I have only 5 weeks left to finish my part of this project. Things here won’t stop but will continue as they are until the next volunteer arrives.