Mary Ward International - Current Projects

Making a Difference

We would like to thank all our generous friends and colleagues who continue to support our education and development programs. We especially acknowledge all our major Partner Organisations and Major Donors.

The following Loreto programs have been made possible thanks to donations to MWIA from individuals, schools, past-pupils, businesses and community organisations. Further information is also provided in the project news updates below.

MWIA Project News Update December 2009

MWIA Project News Update May 2009

MWIA Project News Update November 2008

Australia

Empowering young mothers - Strong Young Mums

MWIA has provided part-funding for “Strong Young Mums” at Centacare Wilcannia-Forbes. This award-winning program provides young Aboriginal mothers in Bourke with the opportunity to achieve Year 10 accreditation (some Year 11 or 12). The program also encourages the utilisation of early childhood services such as playgroups and childcare; and the development of vocational skills.

The Loreto Toorak Past-Pupils Association has pledged its support for this program. We hope other partners will join us in supporting this much-needed and very effective program.

Improving literacy - Reading Recovery

In 2009 MWIA is launching “Mary Ward in the Kimberley – Supporting Reading Recovery in the Kimberley”. “Reading Recovery” is an early intervention literacy support program that has helped improve the literacy of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in the Kimberley. MWIA, in partnership with a number of organisations, including the Western Australia Catholic Education Office and the Kimberley Land Council, will approach government and corporations to extend this program to all schools in the Kimberley. You can help by writing to the Ministers for Education and Indigenous Affairs urging them to keep funding the project in the Kimberley (example letter below).

Providing dignity - Sisters' Place

MWIA is providing funding for essential toiletries required by the “Sisters’ Place” in Fremantle - a night shelter for homeless and marginalised women. The centre aims to provide dignified and safe night accommodation with the hope that the women will be empowered by the knowledge that “someone cares.”

India

Community ownership through proactive partnership - Collective Voices

Collective Voices, co-funded by Loreto Family International, was launched in Panighatta, Darjeeling, on International Women’s Day on 8 March 2009. The goal of the project is to create a model “Woman-Youth-Child Friendly Community” whereby women, youth and children are helped to participate in the planning process in their community and have access to education, health and nutrition.

Community ownership through proactive partnership is key to this project. The target is that in three to five years the community will be empowered to make their own decisions regarding their development and access the government schemes available to them

Building sustainable communities

We are funding development projects in Darjeeling and Nepal that will make a sustainable difference to the community by training and increasing the number of teachers in the area and by providing opportunities for the children of people on low-incomes, such as tea plantation workers and stone-breakers, to be educated.
Project activities include:

School teacher training
Barefoot Teacher Training*
Back to school program for disengaged students
Community micro-credit groups
Hostel for children from far flung villages
Maternal and child health programs
Adult education for women

We are able to assist these projects in partnership with Loreto Family International and generous individuals.

Ensuring the future of local villages

This project in Panighatta will build on activities currently being supported by MWIA as described above. By upgrading the Loreto School in Panighatta, students will have the opportunity to complete their National Open School Certificate. Improving local education and introducing new training can reduce migration from villages for employment purposes. Activities include:

Upgrading of school to Year 10
Starting a book bank
Providing after-school study classes
Increasing computer education
Improving school library

This project has received valuable support from individuals as well as the Loreto Kirribilli Ex-Students Association which held a major fundraising event in July 2008 called the Darjeeling Dreaming.

Providing opportunities for at-risk youth

We are funding projects in Kolkata that provide economic opportunities to young people who would normally be living on the streets. The projects cover Entally, Shillong, Umphyrnai, Satarda and Sealdah.

Barefoot Teacher Training*
Teacher leadership training for village youth
Income generation and skills training
Technical and vocational training of young women
Hostel for school children from remote villages
Community micro-credit groups

* The term ‘barefoot’ follows the principle that “we only need our feet to walk and the shoes are additional”. It is intensely practical (foot) and omits all excessive and unnecessary theories (shoe). The training in teaching aids is linked to the person’s environment, enabling the trainees to create their teaching aids from whatever is available in their local surroundings and depending on the children’s learning needs. They can still teach even if under a tree or in the slums and with limited resources.

MWIA is able to assist these projects in partnership with Loreto Family International and other generous individuals. Entally and Sealdah also received support from Loreto Marryatville, Loreto Ballarat and the Parents Association of Loreto Normanhurst, as well as from international non-government and philanthropic organisations.

Vietnam

Bringing education to the poor and vulnerable

MWIA is continuing the funding of university fees for a young woman studying her second year of a social work degree - a university degree which otherwise would not have been possible.

We have also provided funding for new books and book shelves at a children’s library in a poor village inhabited predominantly by Cambodian refugees near the Cambodian border. Education and support for the people are minimal and problems such as human trafficking are present.

In partnership with a number of individuals and organisations, MWIA is supporting a project that provides educational opportunities for children living with a disability, young people living on the streets in the city and children in rural areas.

Timor Leste

Making education possible

We provide financial assistance for living expenses of students originating from other towns who are studying at Marist Teachers College in Baucau. These students would otherwise be unable to continue their education due to the cost of basic living expenses.

Continuing support of this program is made possible in partnership with Loreto Toorak Past-Pupils Association.

MWIA is funding a Business Diploma scholarship for an East Timorese woman in Baucau. The diploma will equip this young woman with the skills and confidence to make a difference in her community.

East Africa - Kenya

Supporting the National Holistic Growth and Research Centre for FGM Campaign

MWIA is supporting an established and ongoing Eradication of Female Genital Mutilation Education Program in schools (among students and teachers) and communities (elders and parents). Awareness-raising, especially among young girls and their parents, is a major part of this program.

MWIA hopes to provide them with financial support for resources (trainers and materials) to ensure that this important education program continues and reaches more rural and remote communities.

One major requirement of this program is a National Holistic Growth and Research Centre to serve as a community meeting place; training space for project workers; space for education programs; central location for documentation and dissemination of information and research; and accommodation/retreat space for women affected by FGM.

This project has been supported in partnership with the students and staff of Loreto Normanhurst, the Rotary Club of Clayton and generous individuals. This project also receives valuable support from the Loreto network, in particular Loreto Mandeville Hall in Australia and Loreto schools overseas, as well as from international non-government and philanthropic organisations.

South Africa - Zambia

Enabling student participation

In Lukula, Zambia, we are funding activity materials, resources and refreshments for UN Children’s Day and the promotion of IRI (Interactive Radio Instruction). As well as enabling village children to participate and enjoy UN Children’s Day; this grant will raise the profile of IRI in the village and encourage greater support from village elders and parents.

Equipping science laboratories

MWIA purchased non-consumable science equipment for two secondary school laboratories in Lukulu that were not being used due to lack of equipment. Students were unable to engage in any science practical work. Now teachers will be provided with resources to conduct meaningful science practical classes. The facilities will also be used to train science teachers – particularly in finding practical and creative ways of teaching science using the limited resources available.

Enabling Christian rites to occur

MWIA has assisted in the purchase of resources such as stationery and materials that will be utilised to prepare the local Christian community for Christian Rites of Initiation – Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.

Funding for these activities in Zambia have been possible with the generous support of Kirribilli Parents and Friends Wishing Well Project, Aloysius Social Circle and generous individuals.

How You Can Help

You can help support MWIA with:

Prayers
Donations
Bequests
Fundraising events for schools or groups
Volunteering

More information about how I can help.