An update from Fr David Smith:-
“We have many people in Wallsend sponsoring orphaned children to attend school or college. Boarding school or college sounds very grand, when really, it’s just ordinary day school with a dormitory for the young people to sleep in.
“At the end of the school day the youngsters do their homework in class then play sports outside together before having a wash in the river then being fed before bed.
“Sending the young people to a boarding school is slightly more money than sending them to a regular day placement but it means The Muhoroni People’s Foundation staff and volunteers know the children are safe in the evenings and during the night.
“The problem we have is housing them during the holidays. Recently, we have been building safe houses. The women who weave the baskets at our women’s resource centre are moving from the slums into these safe houses and we are offering them training opportunities in house parenting and so when our orphaned children and young people are on school or college holidays, they have a safe home to live in.
“These houses are built on a plot of land where they can grow vegetables and plant fruit trees.
“Many thanks to the Wallsend parishioner who has donated the cost of this latest safe house. The building has a concrete floor instead of the mud floor of homes in the slums and guttering which catches the rainwater and fills its very own water tank. This housing project is proving to be life changing.
“Recently, St Bernadette’s School in Wallsend raised enough to build another of these houses.
“It’s wonderful to support our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in extreme poverty and to assist children and young people who are grieving their parents to find safe and comfortable accommodation while being educated to a good standard.
“We are very grateful for the generosity of our supporters. If you are interested in more information, please contact me at ourlofyoflourdes.wallsend@diocesehn.org.uk”
