Helping to make a difference in Uganda

In 2023 Fr Aodhán (Our Lady of Silence Community) and Mr Paddy Smyth (Cistercian College) set up One Less Thing for Lent.

This campaign had three specific objectives:

Give up something for Lent

Donate its value to the fund

By consuming one less thing we contribute to a sustainable environment.

The campaign was embraced by the students at the college, their parents, past members and the public. In 2023 and 2024 we raised over €10,000 all of which was donated directly to Colomo Primary School in Uganda.

The school is run by local woman Sr Mona Maher from Anngrove, Clyduff, Roscrea. As a result of this fund, five girls are boarding at the school, each for seven years.

This lent again was no exception when we raised another €4,500, this will send two more girls to school for seven years. Without this fund these young girls often from very poor backgrounds would likely never go to school. A cheque for €4,500 was presented to Sr Mona in May at Cistercian College with all of the students and college community in attendance. Sr Mona thanked everyone and told them about the extreme poverty in Uganda and how much our contributions have meant to the families of the girls who have the opportunity to be educated.