The below article has been contributed to Donegal Daily by Mary-Ellen McGroarty, World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director in South Sudan. A native of Mountcharles, Mary Ellen has many years of humanitarian leadership and front-line experience in conflict-affected countries including Afghanistan, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Burundi. This Saturday 13th July, Mary Ellen will be the special guest at an Afternoon Tea Party and an Antique & Vintage Fashion Show at the Bluestack Centre in Drimarone raising funds for girls’ education in South Sudan.
(More details below) by Mary Ellen McGroarty Education is a cornerstone of development, without robust education systems poverty will continue to prevail and livelihood opportunities will be limited. The benefits of strong education systems is something we know well in Ireland. In 1966 the Irish Government announced the introduction of free secondary schooling across the country which was a gamechanger for households and communities, opening up new possibilities for millions of children.
The introduction of free schooling was the culmination of a transformation which began in 1914 with the introduction of the Education (Provision of Meals) (Ireland) Act, 1914 to encourage parents to send their children to school. At the time, school teachers repeatedly highlighted the benefits of the midday meal which renewed alertness amongst the students, enabling them to concentrate throughout the day, and that it improved attendance amon.