Kind pupils help provide a library for Syrian children

St Brigid's Primary School, Ballymoney is supporting local author Garry McKinney in his efforts to provide a library of books for Syrian children in Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan.

Garry, with the help of UN officials, will visit the camp which has become home to around 43,000 children. He has appealed to local schools to help raise £5,000 to buy children’s books for a much-needed camp library.

Having learned about the plight of Syrian refugees in school, the children in St Brigid’s were keen to assist Garry with his fundraising efforts. They held a pancake sale and a second-hand book sale on World Book Day.

Their efforts and hard work were recognised when Garry McKinney paid a visit to St Brigid’s for a whole-school assembly. He was delighted to be presented with a cheque for £375. The children of P5 showed a video they created entitled ‘I See Syria’, which was since been shared with schools across Northern Ireland through the C2k Network.

Principal, Mr Kieran O’Neill said: “The Reading for Refugees project has given the children a meaningful context in which to learn about the hardship facing Syrian refugees. It has also taught the children that, through our actions, we can make a real difference.”

Garry McKinney and his team thanked the “incredible pupils and staff at St Brigid’s Primary School” for their “outstanding contribution to Reading for Refugees”.

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