Lent Update
As we continue our Lenten journey, I would like to thank all those schools, parishes and individuals who have pledged to support the work outlined below, through donating money raised during Lent.
All donations, no matter how small, are valued and every penny is spent on meeting the projects identified by Sister Susan and myself. Cheques should be made payable to: BCPP – Rwanda Appeal
Tanzania Project
The Sisters of St Mary established a house in Kijichi, Dar es Salaam in 2008.
In 2009, the Birmingham Catholic Primary Partnership built a nursery unit on the school site. Further development was hampered by issues regarding land ownership. These have now been resolved.
Initial plans were drawn up for the building of one block of two classrooms and a toilet block for junior aged children and an administration block. The Director recently visited Tanzania to finalise the project, approve the plans, ensure sustainability and meet all concerned with the building works etc.
This work now urgently needs commencing. Children who reach the top of the Key Stage 1 classes, will have to transfer to a state school unless this project is completed.
The Birmingham Catholic Primary Partnership sent an initial payment of £15,500.00 to the Sisters on 2 October 2012, so as to allow the building work to commence. A similar amount now needs to be raised to move the work towards completion.
Rwanda Projects
Secondary
We will continue to support the small number of students who are nearing the end of their studies at secondary schools. The cost of a sponsorship is about £225.00 per year. This money pays for:
- School fees
- Food
- A bed
- Exercise books
- Uniform
- Examination fees
- Boarding fees
This year we will hopefully have the joy of seeing four of the students from the 2005 and 2006 sponsorship lists obtaining their university degrees. Their university studies end in July. Without support from sponsors, parishes and individuals, these pupils would probably not have finished their secondary education.
Primary
Children continue to be required by the Rwandan government to wear school uniform and footwear if they are to attend school. In addition, they must equip themselves with notebooks. For some families, this is too much of a financial burden and in these cases, Sister Susan has intervened to make sure that these pupils have the necessary equipment to allow them to attend school. A thousand pounds is needed to meet these costs.