'I want to make a difference to do something to help other people'

"The journey with a 1,000 miles begins with one step" - Confucius.
 

The route from Ireland to China is a familiar one for Leo Monahan and his family. 

The Monahans, who live in Navan, have made the trek to the land of that wise, old philosopher Confucius many times - and they are likely to do so again. They have also made another journey. 
Thirty years ago now Kathy, a Cork native, and her husband Niall, who is originally from Dublin, moved to Navan from the Irish capitial to carve out a new life for themselves. 
It was in the Meath town they went about raising their two children, Neil (now 36) and Jill (32). Most couples would be content with that family unit but the Monahans wanted to take things a step further; they decided to adopt two more children and give them a better life; two youngsters of Chinese origin - Meimei and Leo.
The were both babies when the Monahans brought them back to Navan. Now they are now young adults making their way in world - and doing very well thank you very much. 
Both are students in Trinity College, Dublin where Meimei (21) is studying history and Leo (17) medical chemistry.
Recently Leo applied and was accepted for a scholarship made available by Devenish Nutrition worth up to €4,000 a year. Devenish Nutrition are the main sponsors of the Meath senor football team and are now a major enterprise in the agri-technology sector. 

Leo Monahan receives his grant from Owen Brennan from Devenish Nutrition.

Last Friday at the Netterville Institute in Dowth the scholarship grant was officially handed over to Leo Monahan. The first-year student was chosen after he made a presentation that clearly impressed the judges. 
In his presentation Leo outlined how he wanted to study medicine and return to China to help youngsters in the land of his birth; how he wanted to make a difference. 
Last year Leo travelled with his mother Kathy and sister Meimei to orphanages in Hainan Island off the south China coast. He spent some time working in orphanages there and the experience had a profound effect on him.
“That was a big trip for me, it meant a lot to me, made me want to do this course I'm doing in Trinity even more, it made me want to help people,” Leo told the Meath Chronicle. “The fact I was an orphen myself going back to work in the orphanages was a big thing, it was quite emotional as well, it had a real influence on me and made me appreciate more the life I have now, how lucky I am.
“I want to make a difference not just get a job and work away I want to be out there doing something to help other people. I would like to work in the medical area, maybe help to fight diseases, some work along those lines. I'm still only in first year so I've got time to think about that and what direction to take.”
As part of his mission Leo would love to learn to speak more Chinese although he admits it's a very difficult language to conquer - something Kathy will also agree with although both also add how China is a wonderful, enriching country that is so different in so many ways. 
Certainly China is a land that has long fascinated and intrigued the Monahans. 
Since the late 1990s Kathy and Niall have sought to do what they can to help orphens in China - and who need that little extra, helping hand. 

At the presentation of the grant to Leo Monahan were (from left) Colm O'Rourke (Principal of St Patrick's CS, Navan), Kathy Monahan, Owen Brennan, Leo Monahan, Niall Monahan, Eddie Murphy. 

In 1996 Kathy - who has 35 years experience as a montessori teacher - was a key figure in the setting up a charity called 'International Orphen Aid Ireland (IOAI)' with Niall also closely involved. The charity has sought, over the years, to provide the finance needed to help youngsters in Chinese orphanages, especially those with special needs. 
The charity has evolved now to the stage where it has a Board of Management and is supported financially by people both in Ireland and China while trained volunteers also give up their time. The charity is also involved in taking children back to Ireland to receive specialised treatment, all the time working closely with the Chinese authorities who are very supportive.
“It's all special needs children we work with in China, there are various areas over there where we work in orphanages. We love China, our kids love China, it's so different, the people so friendly. Two of our children are from there and we want to encourage them to keep in contact with their culture,” explains Kathy. 
“Of course funds is an issue for the charity but business enterprises in both China and Ireland help out. 
“We have a dentist and a couple of doctors working with us, we have a team of skilled people. We put in bathrooms, refurbish rooms, set up playrooms, help the children with everyday skills.” 
The charity also aims to bring those adopted in Ireland back to China to work in orphanages - if they so wish. 
Kathy trained as a social worker and worked in one of the last orphanages that operated in Ireland in Blackrock, Co Dublin. Both she and Niall - who runs his own cleaning business - resolved early in their relationship that once they had their own family they would try to adopt. Fate directed them towards China. 
Maimei was added to the family and they also fell for a youngster who had a club foot - Leo. He has been with the Monahans since he was four months old. Leo went to local schools including St Patrick's Classical School, Navan and now he has moved on to Trinity with a clear vision in his mind as to what he wants to do. 
“We originally brought Leo here in May 2001 for medical treatment, he had a club foot. He had various bouts of surgery over the years in Crumlin Childrens' Hospital, where they were brilliant with him, and we were allowed to adopt him in 2006. He will never be a footballer but he loves sailing, table tennis, photography.” 
In 2013 Kathy set up Brickx Club, a company that is based on helping youngsters (in Ireland and China) with what she terms “Lego therapy.” This is aimed at helping youngsters develop their social skills, hand-to-eye co-ordination and promote creativity among other objectives. 
There are, Kathy points out, 10 families in the Meath area who have adopted children from China. Every so often people from IOAI will return to the land of Confucius to work in orphanages and do what they can to help youngsters who need support and guidance. 
Currently IOAI are engaged in running a dental project in China. 
Recently Leo and Memei have set up an Irish Chinese Youth Foundation which they intend will set up language and cultural exchanges. 
As the old Chinese proverb goes: “Every step makes a footprint.”