Strabane students fundraising for life-changing trip to Romania

FUNDRAISING efforts are underway at Strabane Academy as a group of students prepare for a life-changing trip to Romania.

Ten Year 13 pupils and two leaders are planning to spend eleven days in the eastern European country as part of an ‘Explore Team’ in partnership with youth organisation Exodus North West. The youth discipleship organisation, founded in 1997, works with young people and schools to encourage them to become “lifelong followers of Christ.”

The group is aiming to raise a total of £4,860 for the trip, and they’ve already secured just over half of that amount through a series of successful fundraising activities.

Academy teacher Karen Aiken explained: “The reason for our trip to Romania is so that Academy pupils who are dedicated to Jesus get the chance to discover Christian life in another country, meet new people, explore the issues of life in that country and their challenges and, hopefully make a difference there, locally at first and hopefully that difference will then take hold globally.”

The trip will take place between July 6 and 17, and students have been busy organising events to meet their target.

Ms Aiken continued: “So far, we have raised over 50 per-cent of the overall target through various different events, including a table quiz at the Bridge Church in Strabane which was a huge success, raising over £700 towards the trip. One of the team members, Madison, then hosted a coffee morning on March 22 in Donemana Presbyterian Church Hall, where she sold a beautiful range of savoury and sweet treats prepared by her parents and friends. That event raised £1,500. In addition, the fundraising team have been doing weekly sales of sausage rolls in the school. We hope to be able to reach our target so that pupils can embark on this important journey.

“Anyone wishing to contribute to our campaign can do so by looking at our Total Giving page at https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/exodusteam53.”