On 28th November 2017 a service of thanksgiving was held at the Priory Church of Holy Trinity in York to celebrate ten years of the African Sisters of St. Mary (CMM) Support Group. Our Chairman Dirk Juttner gave the address describing how the charitable work had developed over the years.

Although financial support and and visits began in the early years of the millennium the charity was registered with the Charity Commission in 2007. From the outset this small group of Trustees and loyal volunteers has been able to benefit the Sisters in many remarkable ways. All is done with minimal administrative cost and all annual visits to the Sisters in Tanzania and Zambia are made at the Trustees’ own expense.

Here is a list a few of some of the requests we responded to: two Montessori nursery schools and the Secondary School Girls Hostel, new Chapel, medical supplies, water conservation and boreholes, education for Sisters and Novices, nursery school equipment, repairs to existing CMM Houses, to tractors and farm machinery, transport vehicles, knitting machine for Sisters, Bibles for inquiring people, support of orphaned children and clergy widows.

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The climate continues to be a great challenge. Changing weather patterns made it even more important to harvest rain water off roofs of by catching it in the rainy season. Over the years we supplied a number of rainwater harvesting tanks and guttering.

There is one very successful borehole drilled recently at Masasi which allows for increased planting of food crops.
Solar energy panels have been installed at a number of houses. The parishioners of St Mary in Warwick collected enough money to buy a dairy heifer ‘Malala’ who will provide milk for the hostel residents and surplus milk will be sold to bring in cash.

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Mother Dorothy recently wrote about the education programme. She appreciated the great help that two of the Sister at St. John’s University were able to complete their studies. One Sister obtained a Certificate in Live Stock and Agriculture and another Sister a Diploma in Community Development. Three Sisters completed their Secondary School education; one at Rondo Junior Seminary, Masasi Diocese and two at Hegongo Secondary School in Tanga Diocese. Another Sister has completed a Religious Education Course in Dodoma is now helping at our St. Mary’s Pre-Primary School in Njombe.

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Further Help is Needed

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Amongst the many needs for support we would particularly request donations for the water irrigation system of plants at Masasi and contributions, large or small for the Bursary fund that allows girls from disadvantaged families to live in the Hostel so they can receive Secondary School education.

 

Donations can be made on the link of our website or to us directly. Whenever possible we like to reclaim the Gift Aid element of all donations adding another 25% to the money given by you.

More information on any of the items mentioned can be given by contacting us by clicking here.