Funds for Congo School for Peace

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.   Click on the link below to learn more about each of them.  They are:-

Congo School for Peace

www.schoolforpeace.org

If you wish to make an individual donation

please use Sort Code 08-92-99 Account 65660964.

26 March

Spring Newsletter

Latest News from Congo

In total, 1162 children had enrolled at the school by the end of 2023. The main picture shows some female students in the Secondary in the science lab. This year, there are 12 Secondary School pupils in need of sponsoring. We have received their photos and they have contributed to a survey about their school where they seem very happy and feel that they are well taught. One pupil, Nancy, wrote that she admired her school because they are taught to share and to forgive, to help and to love their neighbour.
We have received a report from Sister Émilie telling us that one of the children called Josh in primary 4A died recently. He had been ill for some time, but we do not know exactly what he suffered from. As well as that sad news, we have heard that two more of the sisters have died from cancer: Sr Marcelline was 59 years old and Sr Christelle (left) was only 25 years old.
This year there are 57 children in the Primary School in need of sponsorship. The sisters take time to evaluate the pupils who need sponsorship and that can change from year to year if the parents gain or lose a job. We have created a folder on our website with as much detail as possible. The university students are continuing with their studies and we will devote the back page to them in the next edition. There are also two young men who have asked the sisters for help. Both are in their final two years at university (see below).

Sr Virginie’s visit to Europe

Sadly Sr Virginie could not wait long enough in Kinshasa to secure a visa for the UK for such a short visit, so Mary finally met with her near Paris when she was visiting different groups in Europe. We had prepared questions for her and she sent a message to all our supporters:

“Hello! First of all I am happy to welcome Mary here at Sceaux, near Paris. We’ve spent a good afternoon exchanging information about the School for Peace. Thank you very much for all that you are doing, for your staying power, your sensitivity and above all your love for the children, the poorest children who are sponsored at the School for Peace. I thank each one of you and Mary too for her dedication. You give a lot to the project.” She went on to say that Sister Scholastique (the Head of the Nursery School) has left to run a school in a town called Pweto. During her headship at the School for Peace, she was also studying at the Institut Supérieur Pédagogique. Sister Marie Salomé has been the new the Head of the Primary School since September. She is a strong candidate, having spent 25 years in the primary sector in Congolo. Sr Emilie will remain head of the secondary school with overall responsibility for the whole school. Surprisingly, they are now taking in babies during the day to enable mothers to go to work. The parents trust the sisters who are running the school. It is seen as a very good school which takes education seriously. Recently they had to sack a teacher who was failing to correct the children’s work properly. Sr Emilie checks this regularly and noticed he was not giving any feedback to the children. Fortunately, there were many applicants waiting to replace him.

Events for 2024

Afternoon of Poetry and Song
3pm on Sunday 24th March at Hungate Church, Beccles. Tickets £12 including refreshments.

Stall in Ravensmere, Beccles, next to Practical Van Hire as part of the Beccles Antiques Fair on Sunday 5th May

Garden party on 12th or 19th May (date to be confirmed)
Please see our website (Future Events) for all other activities.

University Students needing help!

Two students at the University of Lubumbashi who need help in order to continue their studies. Can you help?

Student 1 Name: TOUSSAINT SEND TSHILOMBO, a former pupil at The School for Peace OPTION: Tax Law Two years remaining from this January (2024). Fees: approx £250 per annum.

Student 2 Name: LAURENT TUNDA SANTOS Studying Agricultural Science in the Department of Agricultural Economy. Two years remaining from this January (2024). Fees: approx £360 per annum.

Sr Emilie writes: “I know both of these students. Toussaint is a young man who has managed to pay for his studies by himself since secondary school. He has regularly come up against difficulties and from time to time we have tried to help him but we are no longer able to do so. That is why I thought it might be a good idea to see if you could help him. Laurent is an orphan who was being helped by a gentleman who has financial problems and can no longer help him.

Thank you very much for any help you can give.

Greetings to all our friends. 

If you can fundraise, find sponsors or help us in any way please contact Mary Ellwood (Secretary) or Alan Williams (Treasurer):
congoschool4peace@gmail.com
Please do not forget to use easyfundraising.org.uk if you shop online.