Prayer Support Helps Too!
All charities desperately need our financial help – but they all stress that the support of our Prayers is equally important.
We actively encourage ALL parishioners to remember in their prayers, ALL the charities we have selected for our support. They are:-
- Aid to the Church in Need;
- CAFOD;
- Christian Aid
- Congo School for Peace;
- Mary’s Meals;
- Missio;
- Local Charities.
Congo School for Peace
www.schoolforpeace.org
If you wish to make an individual donation
please use Sort Code 08-92-99 Account 65660964.
08 April – Spring Newsletter
Latest News from Congo
The main picture shows the children from the nursery school on their annual trip in February. Firstly they visited a new supermarket so that the children could see the variety of goods available. This was followed by a boat trip on the river. All of this is new in Lubumbashi so it must have been a very exciting outing. They were dressed in their P.E. kit and the staff wore their best clothes for the occasion. There are 210 children in this section.
Primary School There are 646 pupils in this section. No-one has dropped out so far. Of the 11 pupils being sponsored, only one has failed the December exam but they will be able to resit. We will get a full report after Easter. The girls also celebrated International Women’s Day on 8th March.
The new Head of the Secondary School, Sr Émilie, writes: There are now 395 pupils and 20 teachers, all of whom are fully qualified having studied at the Insititut Supérieur Pédagogique and the University of Lubumbashi. However not one of them is paid by the State and so their salary comes from the parents’ contributions. The pupils generally apply themselves well but the current conditions in the country do not really allow the students to master what they learn. Many parents do not earn enough to send their children to school and many youngsters have to work after school, especially the orphans. Those who can study outside lessons are making good progress because out of 395 learners only 97 have failed this year so far, in spite of these conditions. On average 4 out of 10 pupils in the final year go on to university. Some go straight into teaching in nursery and primary schools or start small businesses, develop various specialist skills while others work for their families. Difficulties: There are not enough study rooms for the students, not enough text books for the library to encourage further study, not enough equipment for the school science lab. (We have decided to send the money raised at the Quiz and Curry evening to the secondary school. We’ll update you about this in due course. Ed).
Message from Sr Virginie, Mother General As the euro has lost its value against the dollar, building for the toilets has been delayed. Furthermore, the cost of cement has gone up from 10 dollars to 16 dollars; a lorry load of sand has gone up from 450 dollars to 720 dollars. Thank you for your generosity and I look forward to seeing you all in June. (We have sent an extra £1000 which will hopefully cover these increases. Building will now start on Monday 10th April. Ed)
Fundraising Events
- The Quiz and Curry evening on 25th March was a great success with a final result of £998!
- Visit of Sr Virginie Kadima end of June when we will have a garden party so that you can meet her and ask lots of questions! Details TBC.
- Music Garden Party in the garden of 40 Puddingmoor Beccles. We hope that this will take place at the end of July.
- Stalls: The first will take place in Ravensmere (next to Practical Van Hire) on 30th April 8.30am – 2pm and the second will be in Newmarket, Beccles on Friday 14th July 8.30am – 1pm
- Evening of Poetry and Song TBC
Please do not forget to use easyfundraising.org.uk if you shop online, search for Congo School for Peace. Amazon Smile has ended.
| If you can fundraise, find sponsors or help us in any way please contact Mary Ellwood (Secretary) or Alan Williams (Treasurer):
congoschool4peace@gmail.com |
Messages
Letter from Josué |
| Hello Dear Friend,
My name is Josué Lukanda Luboa and I’m in my exam year at The School for Peace, studying general education. I love my school because of the cleanliness, how we are cared for and the good training we get from the school and from our teachers. I work hard and I help my friends to understand when they are struggling because some classes are difficult for them. When I leave school I would like to study medicine to help save the lives of those who are suffering a lot and who haven’t got the money to pay for medical help. I would like to express our enormous gratitude to you and to all for the work you are doing to enable us to study in good conditions and for the projects that you are undertaking for our dear school. May the Almighty protect and bless you. Thank you, thank you, thank you! |
From the Headteachers:
Sister Angelina Kimembe, Secondary School
Sister Agnès Kafwimbi, Primary School
Sr Scholastique Byanabike, Nursery School
To all dear sponsors and members of the School for Peace project ,
Sharing joy and sharing solidarity, this is the true meaning of Christmas. Through His coming into the world, Jesus brings joy and peace to all people.
Thank you so much for your active contribution to the project which brings joy and peace to pupils and teachers at the School for Peace.
May God bless you for your generosity and humanity.
On behalf of all the pupils and teachers.
Sr Virginie, who has been overseeing the project for many years, has now returned from setting up a convent and school in Zambia, to head up a nursery and primary school in Katuba, a very poor area of Lubumbashi. We wish her well in her demanding new job.
Can YOU help?
We have received this note about how you can help raise funds for the School at NO COST TO YOURSELF!
easyfundraising turns your everyday online shopping into FREE donations when you use them to shop with over 5,000 retailers such as eBay, John Lewis, Argos, ASOS and Booking.com.
Retailers then make a small donation to say ‘thank you’ and easyfundraising gives those free funds to the cause.
Please register using this unique link – just click sign up –
Plus, once you’ve signed up and raised £5 in donations, easyfundraising will give us an extra £5 donation.
There’s no catch or hidden charges and Congo School for Peace will be really grateful for your donations.
We also have a link for Amazon users – going in via Amazon Smile:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1151173-0
Can YOU Help?
If you can fundraise, find sponsors or help us in any way please contact Mary Ellwood (Secretary) or Alan Williams (Treasurer):
congoschool4peace@gmail.com
St. Benet's Minster Catholic Church, Beccles 