Roger Casements GAC, Portglenone
Several St. Louis G.S. pupils were fortunate enough to have participated in the 2019 Ghana Trip. On the 22nd June the group travelled from Belfast to London and then on another 4500km to Accra, Ghana. Upon arriving in Accra, the pupils were immediately greeted by the St. Louis Sisters. They spent a day with the Sisters in Accra to acclimatise to the punishingly warm heat and to attend a local mass.
Following this, the group travelled north to the city of Kumasi. Here they were met by Sr. Pat and headed to the nearby St. Louis Novitiate headed by Sr. Dorothy. This is where the future Sisters of St. Louis are trained to become nuns. The pupils spent some time here, being shown around the Novitiate and having some fun with the nuns. The group were shown around the Sisters' garden where they grew a large portion of their food.
During their time in the village they had numerous fantastic experiences. The St Louis group gave the school the jersey’s kindly donated by the Roger Casements GAC and Geraldines CC clubs from Portglenone and they played a Gaelic football match against the locals. The pupils also helped out in the clinic led by the St. Louis Sisters. Child after child after child was brought to the clinic, all with the same problem - malaria. Fortunately, the pupils also got to see the nurses treat the children, saving them.
The group would like to emphasise their gratitude to Miss Pickering and Sr. Pat for organising this unforgettable, incredible, life-changing experience. They are all eagerly waiting for the intended return to Oku in 2021.