STUDENTS at St Mary’s College in Belfast will be on the move in March to raise funds for Children in Crossfire.
The new campaign is encouraging students to take part in sponsored exercise to help disadvantaged children in Tanzania and Ethiopia, through training teachers, building classrooms and supporting clean water and nutrition programmes.
Charity founder Richard Moore said: ""The main focus is providing education for children under six-years-of age who live in terribly vulnerable circumstances."
"Parents in Tanzania and Ethiopia are no different from parents in Belfast or Derry.
"They want the best for their children and hopefully through this campaign, these students at St Mary's will learn about the work Crossfire does."
Mr Moore said his own childhood experience encouraged him to form the charity in 1996.
Aged ten in 1972, he permanently lost his sight when a rubber bullet fired at close range by a soldier in Derry hit his head.
He eventually met and befriended the soldier responsible, while his charity work has gained him admirers like the Dalai Lama.
"You know my story and what happened to me during the Troubles. But I've also been on the receiving end of so much generosity and kindness. That's why I survived what happened to me, blindness has been a positive experience for me," he said.
"The reason why I started Children in Crossfire was to give back some of what I received. So helping children in Tanzania and Ethiopia today, it's possible because of people like my parents and teachers who helped me.
"I genuinely believe that any child you support and give the right opportunity to can grow and blossom to contribute to their community.
"If I'm anything, I'm an example of that."
St Mary’s University College Principal, Professor Peter Finn, added: “We were delighted that Richard Moore was our guest speaker at the Liberal Arts Commencement ceremony back in June 2022 and now we can contribute to his great work. This initiative allows our current student body to proudly support ‘Children in Crossfire’ by engaging as a community during the month of March when they are out on School Experience or Work Related Learning as they take part in daily exercise”.
