THERE is an old African proverb that tells us, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Sitting recently in a packed St Mary’s University College for the Aisling Bursary Awards, I found myself thinking that perhaps it also takes a community to raise a scholar.
What a wonderful occasion it was. The hall was filled not simply with students, families, educators and supporters, but with something that can sometimes be difficult to put into words: The spirit of the West.
I had the great privilege of presenting an Aisling Bursary on behalf of Howard Hastings, joining many other fabulous contributors who have put their hands in their pockets, but more importantly, put their faith in our young people.
A bursary is, of course, financial assistance, and in these challenging times that support can make a tremendous difference. But I believe it represents something much greater. It says to a young person: We see you. We believe in you. Your education matters. Your dreams matter. Your future matters.
As I looked around the packed college, I was reminded of how far West Belfast has travelled. Education was not always an easy road for many families in our community. Previous generations knew hardship, unemployment, discrimination and conflict. Yet running alongside all of that was a fierce belief in education and in creating better opportunities for the generation coming behind.
The Aisling Bursaries are a manifestation of that belief. For me, they represent the very best of community: People succeeding and then reaching back to help someone else climb the ladder. Businesses, individuals and organisations coming together, not asking, “What can I get?” but rather, “What can I give?”
That is the spirit of the West that I recognise. We grow through the growth of others.
There is something profoundly hopeful about watching young scholars being supported on their educational journey. We simply do not know where that journey might lead. Sitting among those bursary recipients could be a future teacher, nurse, scientist, artist, entrepreneur, community leader or perhaps someone who will return one day to present an Aisling Bursary themselves. And wouldn’t that complete the circle?
Education is about much more than qualifications. At its best, it opens minds, develops confidence, creates possibilities and allows people to imagine futures that might previously have seemed beyond their reach.
That is why community support matters. No scholar truly travels alone. Behind every student there are parents, grandparents, teachers, friends, neighbours and sometimes complete strangers who have decided that another person’s future is worth investing in.
Walking out of St Mary’s, I felt enormously proud; proud of the students, proud of those who contributed, and proud of a West Belfast community that continues to invest in its greatest resource – its people.
Perhaps that is the real meaning of community. We rise by helping others rise.
