Alan meets Belfast schoolchildren
20 September 2011
On Thursday 15th September 2011, Alan visited two schools in Northern Ireland which are participating in a scheme to foster cultural and academic links between schools in the UK and the developing world. Children at Holy Family Primary School and Hazlewood Primary School showcased the projects they have been working on as part of a school networking programme in Uganda and Sri Lanka.
The scheme, which is managed by the British Council, aims to give students a greater understanding of some of the issues facing the developing world and how the UK plays its part to help ameliorate poverty, disease and poor educational access in the world’s poorest states.
The students took part in a lively debate about how education can be extended to the 67 million children who are currently disenfranchised in the developing world. Many were surprised to learn that over the next five years, through the direct support of the UK Government, nine million of the poorest children will be helped into primary school.
Alan commented: “I was very impressed by the knowledge and enthusiasm of the children I met, and it is particularly encouraging to see our future generation engaging with the issues which confront the developing world.”
Photo: Crown Copyright