DCU dig archaeology
2 July 2002

Meave O'Byrne access, Orla Conlan project officer, David Dowling and Debbie Merrigan co-ordinators, Anita Andrews, Leanne Ruth, Maud Joyce,Rachel Moran, Rebecca Foley, Aishling Murphy, Shauna Byrne, Katrina Koulianou, Liam Reid, Patrick Gurr, Gareth McMenany, Dean Byrne, James Clarke

On a recent visit to China, working as a staff member for a company called 'Across the Divide', who organise charity walks, I was introduced to an English girl named Jane Perini. She runs a charity in Beijing called Hui Ling which looks after physically and mentally handicapped children.

We were invited to visit their shelter and were very much moved by what we saw. The charity gives these kids one-to-one love and care. They try to generate funding for themselves by making greeting cards which they sell. The staff members and myself found it a most moving experience; the kids had composed a song specially for us which they performed with their teacher.

They are in urgent need of funds and that is why I decided to deliver two slide-illustrated talks on aspects of archaeology, under the auspices of CYTI where I work as an instructor for six weeks each summer. I have set a target of 1200 euro which we will hopefully take as a cover charge from the students attending this year's summer session. This money will be a fantastic boost to Jane and her colleagues who will put it to the best possible use to the students in their relentless, selfless efforts in helping these kids to have a quality of life which they otherwise would be deprived of.