Schools in South Africa

Sherry FitzGerald were instrumental in establishing the 'Amawele' initiative, which means 'twin'.

Amawele facilitates partnerships between schools in Ireland and South Africa, to promote cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries. Each school is twinned with one other, and the students and teachers exchange information to gain insight into some of the practical realities facing their
counterparts.

Amawele is currently working with nearly 100 schools in the Eastern and Western Capes, that are now twinned with schools in Ireland identifying needs and supporting them through developing facilities, materials, training, food and healthcare. It is planned to increase this to 200 schools by 2010. The main focus is on raising the number of young people in South Africa who have access to properly structured education at both primary and second level.

Amawele´s aim in Ireland is to give Irish young people the opportunity to grow in understanding about the world in which they live and to develop a confidence about the difference that they as individuals, and their communities, can make in the world and in their own lives.