School built in Zambia in memory of young Tyrone GAA player

A GROUP of 14 dedicated students from Strabane are preparing for the journey of a lifetime as they get ready to travel to Lusaka, Zambia, in March next year.

They will be taking part in the Lusaka Le Chéile volunteer trip, accompanied by group leaders Ciaran McLaughlin, Judy Duddy, and medical support from Kerry Moran. The students will be working at the Tyrone Secondary School, a school built through funding raised by the Spirit of Paul McGirr Foundation.

The foundation was established in memory of Paul McGirr, a young footballer from Dromore who tragically died from injuries sustained while playing for the Tyrone Minors in the Ulster Championship in 1997. Since its founding in 2007, the Foundation has focused on delivering educational projects in Lusaka.

Today, the foundation supports the Chainda community by helping to develop educational facilities that provide safe, nurturing spaces for children to learn and grow. The campus now includes two primary schools, a secondary school, and a special school – all made possible through the foundation’s work.

During their time in Zambia, the Strabane group will contribute to the development of the Tyrone Secondary School by creating a campus library, using books currently being shipped from schools in Ireland.

The students will introduce a structured library system, lead group reading activities, and engage with both primary and secondary school children to promote the importance of reading.

On behalf of the group, Ciaran McLaughlin said, “This idea came from the group’s involvement in the Ulster GAA Joint Initiative volunteer programme. Everyone of them have embraced the programme and developed their skills as well as inputting as volunteers to their own club.

“Very importantly, every participant is paying their own way to Lusaka, none of the funds raised will be diverted to travel costs… Every penny raised will go to the foundation for its work in Lusaka.”

The group’s first fundraising initiative is a CashCall, in which each of the 17 participants is selling 20 lines at £10 each. The winner will receive a £1,000 prize, delivered through a surprise phone call.

Anyone interested in supporting the campaign can contact Ciaran McLaughlin on 07920429201, Judy Duddy on 07793536785 and Kerry Moran on 07703023215.

Speaking on behalf of the Spirit of Paul McGirr Foundation, chairperson Michael McGirr, Paul’s brother, added, “This will be an amazing, lifetime experience for these students. They will meet children/young people like themselves, all eager to learn but with many challenges to overcome to do so. Having met up with the Strabane group recently, I am very confident they will be great ambassadors for the Strabane area and their local club.”