Enterprising youngsters receiving Gaelic medium education at Bun-sgoil Shleite in Skye will today (Tuesday 1st October) launch a new website to promote the area in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

The project has been developed as part of the Schools Enterprise Programme, a three-year initiative managed by Careers Scotland to promote enterprise in Scotland's
young people.

The Sleat pupils in the primary 4-7 Gaelic class have written all of the eight pages on the new website.  They have also mustered support from several local businesses and organisations that have agreed to sponsor a page at £50 each or mini-sponsors for £5.

The children are particularly keen to establish links with Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, where Gaelic is also spoken, and to encourage more visitors from Canada to come to Skye.

Project Manager Sarah Macrae (aged 10) said:  "We have all really enjoyed working on this project and hope we will get a good response now that it's live.  We hope it will encourage more Cape Breton people to visit Sleat and this will benefit Gaelic in both communities."

Head Teacher and P4-7 Gaelic teacher, Janet MacLeod said: "The aim of this study was to set up an enterprise activity with the class, in order to promote an awareness of the language, cultural and emigrant links with Cape Breton.  The class company name Ceangal is appropriate as it is Gaelic for tie, bind or link.  Highland Councillors are this month signing a memorandum of understanding in Nova Scotia which recognises the unique connections between the Gaelic speaking areas of Scotland and Nova Scotia and hopefully Bun-sgoil Shleite's project will support this initiative

Attending the launch is Bruce Robertson, director of education at The Highland Council.  Commenting on the project he said:  "I am delighted that the pupils and teachers at Sleat have developed this web site as it maintains our commitment to foster Gaelic links with Nova Scotia in an enterprising manner using the latest technology. In October we will have a party of teachers visiting Nova Scotia and they will be able to build upon this outstanding work in one of our small Gaelic speaking
schools."

Director of Careers Scotland, Catriona Eagle, added:  "This project shows just how enterprising and business-like children can be when they are given the opportunity.  In setting up this excellent website they have developed a number of important skills such as teamwork, negotiation, research and problem-solving and the results will be of real value to people in Canada and Scotland."

The new website can be visited at www.ceangal.org.uk .