Archive for May 2013
Would you like to make a difference in the world? The Hope Foundation are currently in the final stages of recruiting for our BeTheChange2012 Volunteer Experience in Kolkata. We will travel to Kolkata in August for 4 Weeks to work on some of the 64 projects we currently run. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact jp@hopefoundation.ie
Fergal Eccles, a 4th year student at Ashton School in Cork, has enjoyed over 1200 downloads of his drumming App ‘DrumHead’ on itunes. Fergal released the App recently to help raise funds for his Immersion Education visit to Kolkata with The Hope Foundation next March.
A keen drummer, Fergal developed the App with some help on layout and visuals from his Art student brother Colm. “The App has only turned to charity in the last few weeks,” said Fergal, “because I needed a way to fund-raise and saw the opportunity and how it could go beyond just local sponsors. But when I started designing it, it was more a personal goal.
“The response has been very good and I’ve had sales in almost every continent and have downloads in places I never even considered like Korea and the United Arab Emirates.”
The Kolkata trip is late next March and Fergal will travel with some of his classmates and spend a week experiencing the reality of life for young people his age living on the streets and in the slums of Kolkata.
Speaking about developing the App, Fergal said: I knew nothing of programming but I had a huge understanding of drums. I knew how other drummers would find it easiest to play on an iPhone screen and what response and sounds real drummers would want. Between brainstorming and programming all of the features, it took me about nine months to complete the App. That included me learning the language (Objective-C). I learnt a lot more than simply iphone developement, for example I began CSS and other programming languages. The teachers in St. Johns College helped and encouraged with the project if I had a problem and gave me a lot of resource to build on and I did a gaming course in CIT last summer.”
You can buy the App here for 99c: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drumhead/id462348458?ls=1&mt=8
Looking to kick-start a healthier 2012? Come along to a Health Day in the Pilates Studio, Penrose Wharf, Cork city on Sunday 22nd January 2012 (11.30am to 4.30pm). You can enjoy hour-long taster sessions of Alexander Technique, Pilates, Body talk, Feldenkrais and ‘Walk Like a Diva’. Donations to the Hope Foundation will be welcomed and there will also be a raffle for free one-to-one sessions on the day. For further details, please contact Rosemary Moone on 021 4311411 or Finn O’Gorman on 087 2533244. A special thanks to Finn for donating the use of her studio.
The Health Day is being organised by Ashton School student James Moone and his Mum Rosemary Moone (pictured here at a recent health fair). The duo are already selling Alexander Technique CDs to raise funds for the school’s Immersion Education Programme, which supports HOPE projects for street children in Kolkata.
The CDs help people to relax and improve posture and cost €5 (€6 incl. p&p) and can be ordered from Rosemary Moone, by e-mail rosemary.moone@upcmail.ie or by phone 021 4311 411.