Pakistani Golfers Ireland, which hosted its annual Pakistan Golf Cup tournament last July, raised a fantastic €10,000 for Saplings Special School in the County Carlow village of Killeshin. The school now plans to use the donation to lease a suite of iPads for students across both primary and post-primary settings.
Saplings Special School currently supports 30 students aged 4 to 18 with autism and complex needs. These students come from Carlow Town and the wider Carlow/Kilkenny region, with some families also travelling from Laois and Kildare. The new technology will significantly enhance communication, particularly for the school’s pre-verbal and minimally verbal students who rely on AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) apps.
A delighted Lesley Brant, Principal at Saplings Special School, stated: “The iPad lease represents an essential investment in accessible digital learning, and will have a direct and immediate impact on how our students communicate, learn and regulate throughout the school day. Our staff deliver highly individualised, evidence-based teaching and support for students with diverse sensory, communication, behavioural and educational needs. This new suite of iPads will further strengthen that work, thanks to the generous donation from Pakistani Golfers Ireland…
“On behalf of our school community, I extend my sincere gratitude to Pakistani Golfers Ireland for their generosity. The funds raised through this year’s Pakistan Golf Cup will have a lasting and positive impact on our students, opening new opportunities for communication, learning and personal growth.”
This is the second year that the Pakistan Golf Cup has incorporated a charitable initiative, reflecting the organisers’ commitment to giving back to the Irish community.
Funds were raised through tee-box sponsorships and individual donations, highlighting the generosity of the Pakistani community in Ireland. There was also major support from the Pakistan Ireland Business Council, whose platform played a vital role in the campaign. During the school visit and cheque presentation, President of the Council, Irfan Hameed, expressed his heartfelt wish that the contribution could have been “10 times greater”.
Dr. Nasir Awan, co-founder of Pakistani Golfers Ireland, said: “Ireland has welcomed our community with warmth and generosity, and we are proud to call this country our home. Giving back through the Pakistan Golf Cup is our way of showing appreciation for that kindness. This year’s event truly reflected the spirit of friendship, sportsmanship and shared purpose. We are deeply grateful to all our supporters and donors, and we remain committed to raising even more funds in the years ahead to support charities and organisations making a meaningful difference.”
Tanveer Alam, who is a member of Pakistani Golfers Ireland, spoke to KCLR News about their generous donation.
