So we decided, in 2005/06, to send the surplus
funds to
Rhino Camp, a major operation run by the
Jesuit Refugee
Service in northern Uganda. Our connection with Rhino was personal:
Raymond Perrier SJ, a young scholastic (a Jesuit in training for
priesthood), who had been an ever-present at FS, supporting the preparation of
the liturgies and making many friends in the process, was sent to work there for
two years. Raymond quickly identified a pressing need there; most of the young
refugees, from Sudan's tragic civil strife, were getting no education and so our
surplus funds enabled him to set up some schemed in the refugee camp which would
make all the difference in the world to those young people. In all, we were able
to remit over £1000 to Raymond for his work.
After one year we switched the beneficiary to
HCPT - The Pilgrimage Trust.
Several First Sunday people are closely involved in this charity which enables
ordinary people to take disadvantaged children to Lourdes at Easter each year.
Several regular FS attendees and organisers were once again in Lourdes at Easter
2007 and our donations will make it possible for more children to go to Lourdes
next year. In 2007/08 our beneficiary was the nascent young adult group at the
Jesuit-run parish of Kndege in Tanzania, East Africa --
see following page.2008/09 -- we launched our new partnerships in
October 2008, with CAFOD (Catholic Fund for Overseas Development) and
with JRS (Jesuit Refugee Service). Our chosen charity from October 2008
to September 2009 is CAFOD's work in Zimbabwe. For most people in the
crisis-torn country, life is still a daily struggle to put food on their
families’ plates. CAFOD has worked in Zimbabwe for many years but say they need
to re-double efforts to feed hungry people and help them rebuild their lives.
CAFOD have told us, "With your continued support, we can supply monthly food
rations and access to clean water to thousands of the most vulnerable families.
You can make a life or death difference".
For details of sums raised since October 2008, see this page.
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