The event was to be solely about the launch of an online repository of films from the wonderful pioneering Fionn project I coordinated from 2002 to 2005 on behalf of the Galway Education Centre & Galway Science and Technology Festival with Minister of Science Noel Treacy(RIP) and which involved 35 Galway schools piloting the introduction of science into the Irish primary school curriculum. The participating teachers, mentors & children from that era succeeded magnificently & our country will be forever in their debt
But to my complete surprise Bernard also used the opportunity to talk about my work across Africa under the SAP Africa Code Week (ACW) programme spearheaded by the brilliant Claire Gillissen-Duval & team which-in partnership with Irish NGO Camden Educational Trust(founded by Bernard) supported by UNESCO, African governments, local NGOs...-became the continent’s largest digital & coding skills initiative.
From 2015 to 2022, I was ACW’s chief mentor & helped develop course content used in 50 African countries by over 100,000 teachers & 14.7 million youth(47% female).
ACW was transformative for so many of its participants. But it also had a profound impact on myself as, teaching in 11 African countries, I experienced at first hand the fantastic diversification of its rich cultures and religious beliefs, its strong community/tribal/family values, its widespread technological youthful innovation...but also, as with the rest of the world, problems associated with rapid urbanisation, population growth, mining, Climate Crises, wars & threats to its precious natural ecosystems.
At the event I was presented with 2 of the most heart-warming gifts I have ever received: a)a specially commissioned(thanks Claire Betis!)painting by African artist Alexandra Savina comprising images drawn from my work in Africa but also portraying elements of my environmental & Irish heritage activities, my student activism days & Michael D. Higgins(my political inspiration)
b) a very loving tribute poem penned by Claire Betis, my good friend & colleague with whom I shared many delightful African & Middle Eastern adventures
In follow-up posts, I will tell the stories of the Africa I encountered on my trips.
This post should have been written ages ago. But the event I outlined above was held soon after I completed 6 weeks of radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer. My energy levels were below norm. And I know Bernard deliberately and very thoughtfully brought in the African dimension to the event-with its gifts, tributes & my friends from Camden(Nuala Dalton & Cushla Dromgool-Regan)-to give me a morale booster during this difficult time.
So I felt it best to write a piece only after my medical results came through & thereby not tempt faith
Thankfully that time has come, as I recently received a positive diagnosis. Hence I give praise, blessings and thanks to the professionalism, skills and kindness of Ireland’s doctors, nurses and technicians.
So there is still a road to travel and more adventures to experience!
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