Coláiste Dhulaigh Visit to Vietnam 2009
Colaiste Dhulaigh received a DEIS student travel Grant from WorldWise for the visit they made in March 09 to the Christina Noble Foundation in Vietnam. The aim of the grant was to support the development of a link with a school for children from the Foundation in Vietnam. In preparation for the visit , teacher June Coghla--who was the project co-ordinator--instigated a number of activities within Colaiste Dhulaigh and the community to promote understanding of Vietnamese people and culture. This included classes for Transition Year on themes such as war and conflict, health issues and culture. They also ran a fashion show which, as well as raising money for the visit , featured two students from the school who are from Vietnam. These activities were profiled in the local press--The Northside People--and the national press: The Irish Times Wednesday 18th March. 
The students for the visit were selected from Transition Year on the basis of the projects they had completed about Vietnam and the group decided to include an Irish music element as part of their visit to the partner school which meant bringing 100 tin whistles!
The visit was a tremendous success: the students were able to carry out their programme within the Foundation, the kindergarten and the Sunshine School. Since their return they have been involved in sharing their experiences throughout the school. And to add to the profile of the project, Christina Noble herself paid a visit to Colaiste Dhulaigh and planted a tree to symbolise the link between the two schools. She also gave them a mention when being interviewed on TV3 and highlighted the value of young people working together to change the world.
The students from Transition year will continue their school linking project next year: both they and their counterparts in the Sunshine School will be studying the book 'The Kite Runner' , using it as the basis for an art project and sharing their learning with each other.
