Press Release

Tuesday, February 27, 2007
St David's High School Host Visit by Jean Vanier

Jean Vanier, the internationally acclaimed founder of the L’Arche communities, 130 of which operate across the world, will be visiting St David's High School on Thursday 1 March. L’Arche communities welcome people of all faith traditions and bring together people with learning disabilities and the assistants who live and work with them.

As part of the Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace, Jean Vanier will be speaking at the Usher Hall and has asked to visit a school and a prison. St David’s High School is delighted to have been asked by the Middle East Festival to host his school visit. which is designed to inspire young people, through a discussion of faith, global citizenship and spirituality and the work of the L’Arche communities.

St David’s students will present their own global citizenship project, Working for Our World. This project supports the work of The Association of People with Disability (APD) in Bangalore, India. In 2005, St David’s raised £20,000 for APD, a sum which was matched by Sir Tom Farmer. Sir Tom will attend the event on March 1, as will Cardinal O’Brien, who has recently returned from a visit to APD in Bangalore and Provost Sam Campbell who will give a vote of thanks.

Marian Docherty, Headteacher of St David's High School said: "The event will include a question and answer session between Jean Vanier and the young people in the audience and will feature a live video link with India. Through a discussion of the inspirational work of L’Arche and a summary of global citizenship in action in St David’s High School, we aim to develop the commitment and service of our young people both locally and internationally."

Contact: Senior Public Relations Officer , Telephone: 0131 271 3534