A Galway couple are heading back to one of the poorest parts of Africa this September to continue their extraordinary work at a school for the blind  in what has become a lifetime’s commitment to the cause.

But in order to make their efforts count, Pat and Mary Clarke, originally from Newbridge in North East Galway but now living in Fairlands Park in Newcastle on the westside of Galway city, have to raise much-needed funds before they go.

That’s why their charity, Supporting Sebeta Students, is hosting a fundraising day on Galway’s Shop Street this Friday, May 9, from 11am onwards – to raise funds for the Clarke’s next project at a school for the visually impaired in Sebeta, Ethiopia.

This time they are hoping to raise €20,000 to build an extension to one of the dormitories in the boarding school, which serves as a home for 300 blind and visually impaired children aged between five and 18 – and older.

Earlier this year, Pat and Mary spent two weeks in Sebeta, where they were able to do some tremendous work – thanks, to a large extent, to the work and funds raised by the volunteers of Building for Children.

Building for Children, which is driven by David Mulrooney from Ballygar, was established in 2006, and has worked abroad, building and refurbishing children’s accommodation in orphanages, hospitals and schools.

Like Pat and Mary, their focus has been particularly on Sebeta and on the town’s Blind School for 80 blind and visually impaired girls and boys.

Co-incidentally Building for Children were honoured for their work when they were named among the Galway People of the Year last year.

The seeds for this mammoth commitment were sown when Pat and Mary first spent two years in and around the Ethiopian town of Sebeta, as volunteers with VSO Ireland from 2010 to 2012.

They’ve returned many times since – and over the last few years, their efforts mean that six dormitories have been renovated in school for the visually impaired in Sebeta, and a new borehole was drilled and is providing much needed clean water for the school. The electrical system has also been upgraded.

“We want to thank most sincerely all those who have helped us over the years and volunteered with us, as this has enabled us to carry out these badly needed works in Sebeta,” says Pat.

But despite all this work, there are many other improvements needed to help the lives of the blind students who live in and around the blind school.

Pat and Mary Clarke plan to go back in September – and the funds raised will help to build the additional accommodation, particularly for the older, adult students who have nowhere to go.

“Some students in the school have multiple disabilities and as a result they are unable to achieve a reasonable grade in school, and hence they are not permitted to progress to secondary school,” says Pat.

“As well as that, there is no other pathway open to them, and hence they are ‘stuck’ in the primary school and there is no place for them to go.”

“These students are in their twenties and thirties and still live in dormitories with children as young as five, which is clearly unsuitable if not inappropriate despite the fact that they are all supervised by the house mothers,” adds Mary.

The Clarkes have already started a foundation for one of these accommodation units, which will be attached to the existing dormitory – but it will have individual spaces for these young adults.

A second such unit will also be required so that there is one for the male students and one for females.

“Each unit will be able to accommodate six or seven students. This will also free up some additional beds for other visually impaired students who cannot now get into the school because of the lack of space due to these young adults,” says Mary.

This Friday’s fundraiser – now an annual event on the streets of Galway – is again centred on music and dance, says Pat.

“We will have some students from Scoil Iognaid singing and dancing. This will be followed by some fun/crowd participation dances led by the well-known ballroom dance teacher Kieran Kelly,” he says.

“Later we will have Gerry D’Arcy and friends with some traditional music and songs. The traditional music group from Carroll’s pub will provide the entertainment after that and they will play for some local set dancers,” he adds.

“All the money we receive goes directly to the project – we pay for our own flights, food and accommodation when we go there,” says Mary.

“Everyone is welcome to come and join in the dancing and singing or just to observe!” concludes Pat.

Pictured: Ethiopia-bound…volunteers Patrick and Mary Clarke.