Intercultural exchange and saving lives were the theme of Tuesday’s 11th April event in Cobh Community Centre. The Meitheal team from Coláiste Muire enjoyed making their visit more enjoyable by teaching hands only CPR to these vibrant teenagers. 30 Spanish students from the Basque region stayed with host families in Cobh for a week and did different activities during their stay.
“It was good yeah, after we taught them CPR we sang some Spanish songs” says Aislinn, one of the Meitheal team members, songs like the “Macarena” by Los Del Rio and “Titi me pregunto” by Bad Bunny. “I like finding out about other cultures; what their school is like and the differences between Cobh town and theirs and the weather of course.”
Having already trained all the first year students in CPR, the Spanish CPR training was an easy task for this year’s Meitheal team. “There was perhaps a language barrier there but once we went around and demonstrated it to them it was fine,” says Olan Kelleher Chairperson on the Meitheal team this term. “It was great because we got to meet new people,” says Saoirse Hamilton secretary of the Meitheal team from First term. “The Spanish singsong was nice afterwards,” says Casee Durnin Meitheal chairperson from First Term. Fun was had while the valuable skill of CPR was passed on.