Buncrana Woman Creates Free Book to Support Children Amid Crisis

A young woman from Buncrana, Síofra Harkin, has launched a free children’s book aimed at helping young readers understand the ongoing defective concrete block crisis affecting their community. The book, titled ‘Fiadh’s House is Feeling Unwell’, is designed for children aged 4 to 10 and addresses the emotional challenges they face as their homes and local buildings may show cracks or require demolition.

Currently residing in Australia, Síofra utilized her free time to create this valuable resource for her home community. With the support of Inish Eyecare, she has successfully funded the printing and distribution of the book, ensuring that it is available at no cost to families. Copies can be collected at Inish Eyecare Opticians & Audiology Buncrana, Inish Eyecare Opticians, Carndonagh, and Louis Walsh Opticians in Letterkenny.

Bridging Creativity and Community Support

Síofra, a graduate of the Broadcast Production programme at Queen’s University Belfast, has a background in storytelling and experience working with children as a primary school Special Needs Assistant (SNA) in Ireland and in a daycare in Perth, Australia. “I was more than happy to distribute it for free as I wanted to do something positive for the community, and I enjoyed the whole process of writing it,” she said.

Recognizing the emotional weight of the crisis, Síofra explained that the book serves to provide support and guidance to the youngest members of the community. “We all know how financially and emotionally overwhelming this time is already, so thankfully Inish Eyecare sponsored the printing of the books which was just fantastic,” she added.

Despite being thousands of miles away, Síofra remains attuned to the struggles faced by families in Inishowen due to the crisis. “Whilst we all know how stressful and overwhelming this situation is for everyone, I figured the littlest minds affected by the crisis also might not feel the support and guidance they need to understand why their safe places might no longer feel safe,” she commented.

Making a Positive Impact in Schools

The response to the book has been overwhelmingly positive. Recently, Síofra’s former school, Scoil Naomh Padraig, Drumfries, hosted a reading session that resonated with students. The school reported, “It was a big hit with our pupils today and allowed us to talk and discuss with the children their thoughts and feelings around the defective concrete crisis.”

Through her thoughtful initiative, Síofra Harkin is not only providing a resource for children but also fostering dialogue and understanding in a time of uncertainty. Her commitment to her community and passion for storytelling shine through in every page of ‘Fiadh’s House is Feeling Unwell’, making it a meaningful tool for families navigating these challenging circumstances.