Thank you

Thank you to all those who have supported this project.

On 23rd May we sent £15,000 to St Angela’s Ursuline school Adigrat, Ethiopia.

I had hoped to send a detailed report of the improvements made. Unfortunately, this is nothing like as glowing as I had expected, as a severe consequence of  the civil war  and subsequent upheavals, there has been a massive devaluation of Ethiopian currency. I asked for a report on repairs, and it is very clear that they have been less than anticipated, the future is still  uncertain, and the country is still far from stable. They have also had to confine much of the work to the summer holidays.

They have continued to keep their priority for improving toilet and water supplies. We had made ours the sinking of a well. Ironically this has also been the government's priority and on 7th September  “the largest Dam in Africa”  was opened in the mountain region of northern Ethiopia  and this should ensure a permanent supply to the whole Tigray area, hopefully in the not-too-distant  future. “God certainly writes straight with crooked lines” in Ethiopia.

However, everything is far from lost. They have obviously been able to run  a successful school year, offering the modified catch- up curriculum, allowed by the government, to the increased number of students they have on roll. This is  great  achievement, as most children are still unable to return to their war  damaged schools and many are  orphaned and traumatised. In such circumstances I imagine damaged buildings and boarded windows seem like a minor deterrent!

We are still holding £ 5515 and we have agreed to invest this money  in our bank account with a view to sending it next June, with any additional money we acquire during the year. In such circumstances it must be hard to keep morale high. We sent £15,000 in May and have agreed to invest  the money we are still holding in a special account in our bank with a view to sending it next June.

Sr Manna and her staff  certainly deserve congratulations on a very successful academic year, despite the trying circumstances, and an obviously very busy summer holiday.

Thank you for the support

Best wishes,

Una McCreesh OSU