Sli Eile is the Jesuit Centre for Young Adults ( 18 – 35 years old). It is based in Dublin and in Galway. It seeks a faith that does justice in solidarity with Jesuits and friends in Zambia, Columbia and now in south Africa.

In Coláste Iognáid our vision is to nourish a caring concern for our community, our environment and ourselves, and to connect this with the radical call of Jesus in the Gospels to live a faith-life which expresses itself by reaching out to others, particularly the most in need.

To that end 12 students and 3 teachers travelled to Maluti District of Eastern Cape of South Africa. We left Galway on the 18 th July and arrived in the town of Matatiele on the Sunday.

Monday morning beckoned and we split into two groups. The first group were to St. Matthews Junior School which was approximately one hours drive from our base. There are 252 students and eight teachers there. The school has five classrooms so often there are two grades in the same room. The major issue at the school is its inadequate pit toilets. It is a galvanised structure, devoid of doors, devoid of privacy and dignity.

The second group travelled a further half hour to Ntabeni Junior School. There are 419 students and thirteen teachers there. The school has a block of permanent classrooms but due to lack of space, they must use three very small very small classrooms and also tin and wooden shacks which are hazardous in relation to the children’s safety.

Both groups worked hard and long and we never really had time to appreciate the overall accomplishment. However, on the last day we had time to stand back and realize just how much we had achieved over the two short weeks we were on site. The sense of pride in the work done, even though it was hard and gruelling, was immeasurable. Yet this feeling of satisfaction was dwarfed by the gratitude and appreciation expressed by the puopils and staff of the school.

Education is not just about exam results, important as they are. What really counts most of all is the kind of person you have become. In true Jesuit spirit, the twelve students and three teachers are ‘people for others’. They all have a generosity of spirit and a readiness to place themselves and their talents at the disposal of others.

Next year……. it could be you!