Vita wants to send six students to visit its Sustainable Livelihoods Projects in Ethiopia in autumn 2009 and are inviting second and third level students nationwide to take part in the Schools for Vita Challenge.

As part of the challenge, students are asked to raise funds for Vita so that current projects can be expanded and new projects can be introduced. The three criteria that will be used to select the winners are:

• Most funds raised;
• Most creative fundraising event;
• Highest visibility event.
  

Established in 1989, Vita is an Irish international development agency whose mission is to enable poor and marginalised communities in Ethiopia and Eritrea to improve their livelihoods in ways which are innovative, appropriate and environmentally sustainable.

The winners of the Schools for Vita Challenge will experience Vita’s work in Ethiopia first hand and will return to their schools as Vita Ambassadors to share their knowledge of Ethiopia with their friends, fellow students and teachers.

Schools for Vita Campaign Manager, Siobhán Hamilton, urged students to get involved.

“This is a great opportunity to make a difference and experience Ethiopia in 2009,” she said.

To register for the Schools for Vita Challenge, visit www.schoolsforvita.ie, or email info@vita.ie or phone 01-882 0108.