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Autumn Newsletter 2009

 

On our return from our visit to Zimbabwe (see our Summer Newsletter) it was obvious to us that education, training and the sharing of skills were lacking due to a shortage of resources and funding.
   
African Mission Charity has always been committed to many forms of teaching which is so important if Africa is to become independent and self-sufficient.  Recently, at the request of Dr Raymond Towey, your generous donations enabled us to purchase a model which will assist in the training of staff in the ICU and Theatre at St Mary’s Hospital, Gulu, Northern Uganda, and so improve life saving airway skills.

 Traditionally when missionaries went to Africa they built of course churches to evangelise, but they also built schools and health clinics and hospitals to make a practical foundation to the social development of the people. In those days there was little in the way of a study as how sustainable development could be achieved. It was just a natural consequence that in a continent with a high mortality rate from disease and with poor literacy, that Christians should heal the sick and open schools to educate the people. Women were often among the priorities for education as nuns were often the educators. Over many years these mission schools and clinics and hospitals were run by nuns, brothers and priests who frequently gave their whole lives to these projects. The reputation of these church founded institutions was very high. The rapid growth of the Church in Africa is no doubt in some way a consequence of how the people valued the practical contribution of the missionaries among them.

With the reduction in vocations in Europe these institutions have very often been handed over to the local Africa Church or governments.  In modern concepts of sustainable development, health and education remain at the very foundation. However a society will not fare well in the world wide competitive markets without a highly trained and literate population.

 During our trip through Zimbabwe it was very sad to see the poor state of the schools.  African Mission has now made a commitment with your help, to assist two schools that are struggling to educate girls and boys in one of the poorest areas of rural Zimbabwe. It was heartbreaking to see a class of students desperate to study and learn and progress in life, huddled together in two groups sharing the few books available as the photo shows.

For us in Europe it is hard to imagine how any study can be carried out without our own personal books. Teaching therefore continues to be a major priority for African Mission.  With your help we will support those working at grass roots in both Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The photographs in this newsletter focus on the teaching role in the classrooms of Primary and Secondary schools.  Also the teaching of Nursing and Medical students in the operating theatre and the intensive Care Unit.  In this day and age it is hard to conceive of any school not having the Internet which in most parts of rural Africa it is just a dream. For us, not to be able to communicate by email with those who we are committed to support is a major drawback.

Let’s reject a world where people are denied access to learning, healthcare and modern means of communication.  Let’s commit ourselves to working for the needs and the rights of our brothers and sisters.

 We thank you sincerely for your ongoing support.

Nannette Ffrench

…………Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. 

Teach him to fish he eats for a lifetime……..