ANNUAL REPORT 2014
OF MISSIONARY MOVEMENT “JESUS IN THY
NEIGHBOUR”
People are neither clay nor a simple piece of meat. Being a human being
should automatically entitle one to the right to live and to be loved. We are
here in solidarity with you and to work hand-in-hand to give strength to
the weak, to heal those who are wounded, to feed the hungry, to walk
with the disabled and to educate the ignorant.
To breathe life and bestow rightful dignity upon these thousands of
children, other NGOs, philanthropic associations and movements will be
joining up with the Missionary Movement, thus assisting us wholeheartedly
to reach our aim. To mention but a few – Reaching Out (Malta), Raise
(Malta), GibMissionAfrica (Gibraltar), Amici di Don Giorgio (Italy), Das
Distributors (USA) and friends of America (USA)
ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS IN ETHIOPIA
DIOCESE OF JIMMA
REFRESHER COURSE FOR TEACHERS IN JIMMA
The prefecture of Jimma, Bonga, as it did last
year, is once more organizing a course for
teachers who are in charge of homes under the
responsibility of the Missionary Movement Ġesu‟
fil-Proxxmu. The attendance for this week long
course was 97%. His Lordship Markus Medhin was
also present for this course and as a conclusion he
delivered a message in his name and in the name
of the Movement.
TECCHO
–
BLESSING
OF
A
th
KINDERGARTEN On Feb 8 , in the
presence of H.L. Bishop Markus and of
a group of volunteers from Malta, a
new kindergarten was inaugurated.
This is a unique project, aiming to start
the path of education for hundreds of
children coming from extremely poor
families. The financial support for this
undertaking came from the Italian
family of Franco Rossi.
YEBA- THE BLESSING OF WORKERS INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A
KINDERGARTEN - On Feb 9th, the Church of the Saviour was consecrated in the village
of Yeba. Thousands attended this ceremony. H.L. Bishop Markus blessed this first
school and all those involved in its construction. Rev. George Grima who was also
present along with the Maltese volunteers emphasized the importance of education and
implored all parents present to send their children to school.
WOCHA
–
BLESSING
KINDERGARTEN
OF
A
NEW
Once more H.L. Markus blessed the first
school in the village of Wocha, where he
admitted that he had never witnessed so
much joy on the faces of those present for
this blessing. For these people this school
was a dream which had materialized for the
benefit of their offspring. The blessing took
th
place on Feb 10 . A generous Maltese person paid for the erection of this school. The
happiness of the people was twofold; first because, at long last, they had their first
school and second because they could meet the Maltese volunteers who were white.
BITA-GENET – BLESSING OF A KINDERGARTEN
On Feb 11th, H.L. Bishop Markus of Jimma
blessed the first kinder in the small village of
Bita-Genet. The parish priest of this village
worked tirelessly so that the money that the
Maltese contributed through the Movement
would be well spent. The enthusiasm of the people resulted in traditional singing and
dancing. More than 120 toddlers will be attending this school at the beginning of March.
SHEBA – BLESSING OF SCHOOL KITCHEN
The Movement has built a number of schools in different villages. These schools are
benefiting a good number of children. Recently the Ethiopian Government has decreed
that each school must have its own kitchen. To prevent the schools that the movement
opened from being closed down, each of these schools has to be provided with a
kitchen. The kitchen at the Sheba school is nearly ready and by the time this report is
published the kitchen will hopefully be functioning. His Lordship and the volunteers
visited this village where the bishop imparted his blessing.
GURECH – BLESSING OF A SCHOOL KITCHEN.
The school kitchen makes sure that pupils eat
food in a clean environment. Besides, as the
smell of food attracts wild animals, the
persons working in food preparation are
protected and not exposed to attacks. The
blessing of the Gurech kitchen took place on
Feb 11th by Bishop Markus.
KUTA
SHORA
–
BLESSING
OF
A
KINDERGARTEN. In the presence of twelve
Maltese volunteers another school was
opened on Feb 11th. The first pupils who will
be attending met their distinguished guests
with flowers and kisses. Bishop Markus who
blessed the school praised the great help that
the Movement gives to his diocese through
the generosity of the Maltese and Gozitan
population.
CARDINAL VAN THUAN HOME FOR THE DISABLED – BONGA The principal walls and
staircases of this home are now in place. For
several months the work had to come to a
standstill as the Ethiopian Government wanted to
finish the principal road first. Thankfully, works on
this project have recommenced. On Feb 12th, Fr
George
Grima
together
with Bishop
Markus and the contractor visited the site. The
Maltese volunteers who went along with them
marvelled at the size of this undertaking and
could hardly believe how big was the generosity
of the Maltese and Gozitans. While this report
was at the press we received word that the first block was finished.
BOQA – A CHAPEL DEDICATED TO ST
JOSEPH. The building of this chapel is
moving apace. On Feb12th the first
procession with the painting of St Joseph
was held. This painting is the work of the
Maltese artist George Apap. As usual the
local population celebrated the event with
their joyful participation. This chapel is
being built by funds coming from the parish of Qala, Gozo, whose patron saint is St
Joseph. On March 19th, St Joseph feast day, the roof of the chapel was finished. On the
same day the parish priest of this chapel, Rev Abba Girma, received a photo of the
most generous benefactor of this chapel, Mgr Anton Sultana, archpriest emeritus of
Qala. The new St Joseph chapel is the largest chapel in the whole diocese.
LIBRARY IN GINYO With the help of Maltese
volunteers a library is being built in the village
of Ginyo, where as yet, there is no electricity.
Here we are working principally with children
coming from families suffering from leprosy.
The Movement is supplying the primary school
children with a library which we hope will be
beneficial for those kids.
DIOCESE OF GAMBELLA
BURE – A NEW PROJECT. Education
is making great strides in the diocese
of Gambella. Recently the Movement
has started building the first school in
the town of Bure with the
participation of the group „Reaching
Out „ under the leadership of Keith
Marshal. On Feb 20th, Fr Grima
accompanied by Bishop Angelo visited the site and were happy to see the progress on
this project.
BONGA – BLESSING OF A BOREHOLE.
On Feb 20th Fr. Grima blessed another
borehole sponsored by the Movement .
This borehole offers a much better future
to the inhabitants of Bonga. In Bonga the
water is close to the village, but it is the
children who have to carry water home,
and so miss school.
OPENGA – BLESSING OF A BOREHOLE.
On Feb 22nd another borehole was blessed by
Bishop Angelo in the village of Openga. The
local people live in very primitive conditions.
The borehole project has shown that the
people in charge of the village care about
improving the environment and primary
education will be starting soon.
OPENGA – BLESSING OF A NEW
PROJECT. On Feb 22nd Fr G. Grima,
together with the chaplain of the village of
Openga, blessed the works at the start of
the construction of the first school. As yet
there is no formal education in this village,
but hopefully, in two years‟ time, this
situation will be remedied. When the local
people have any problem they seek the
advice of the „Wise Man‟ who is the oldest
man in the village. They strongly believe
in the Maltese saying : “Be guided by the council of an old man”. This project is taking
shape with the help of volunteers from Gibraltar who are members of the Movement.
PINKYO- BLESSING OF A BOREHOLE.
On Feb 22nd the parish priest of Terfaye
Petros took Fr G Grima and the
volunteers he had with him, to the village
of Pinkyo to bless the borehole that a
year before another group of volunteers
had dug up. Kevin Grech and Mark
Cremona organized various activities to
collect funds for this borehole. Up to a
short time ago women and children used
to go to the river to get water. As the
river is infested with crocodiles, some of them never returned home.
ABOL WITHOUT WATER.
The town of Abol in the diocese of Gambela suffers from lack of water. As a result the
whole population suffers especially the children who are made to bring home water for
the family. To do this they have to walk for long distances. As their time is taken up
with this duty, they have no time to attend school. With the goodwill and generosity of
some Maltese people we have been entrusted to dig a borehole where it is most
needed. Hopefully, within a few months, this town will have water and a school for the
youngsters.
DIOCESE OF NEKEMTE
KETCHI - A NEW KINDERGARTEN.
A new school has been blessed by the Vicar
General of the diocese of Nekente. Abba
Solomon Berhahu instead of Bishop George,
who happened to be in Rome on an „ad
limina‟ visit. In the meantime the parish
priest Mikitu Kebede has already started a
learning program for 150 children.
SOMBU – CONTINUATION OF BUILDING
OF A NEW KINDERGARTEN
After a petition by the parish priest
Berhanu ASsrat , diocese of Nekemte, the
Movement has started building the first
school in the village of Sombo. When the
parish priest met Fr. Grima he told him
how parents of school age children are
helping in the actual building as they are
so anxious for their children to start their
schooling.
AMBO – DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD AND
HOMES TO LEPERS.
On March 3rd the volunteers of the
Movement went to the town of Ambo
and gave out food to those lepers that
still live amongst the graves, as these
people are the poorest in the
community. On the same occasion Fr.
Grima informed the parish priest of the
lepers that the Movement is offering financial help so that more homes are built for
people suffering from leprosy.
AMBO – DISTRIBUTION OF WHEELCHAIRS.
Fr. Grima, along with the volunteers and the
parish priest of Ambo, visited several
families and heard their many heartbreaking stories. As a result two children
coming from extremely poor families were
given a wheelchair each.
SHIKI WATER PROJECT. The water project in the village of Shiki has started. At the
moment thousands of people are drinking contaminated water. It is hoped that by the
end of January 2015 this project will be finalized and clean water will be made
available. It has long been the ardent wish of Sister Grace that at least these people will
have safe drinking water.
ALEKU LAGA DANO – A NEW WATER PROJECT.
During the last three months the people of
Aleku Laga have been working tirelessly to
have water close to their village. Now that it
has been finished, everyone is enjoying this
very necessary commodity. It has always been
the dream of these people that one day they
will not have to walk for two hours or more to
get their water, a job assigned to children.
Now with this borehole we have killed two
birds with one stone; there is water close by
and children can go to school.
GIVING OUT OF WHEELCHAIRS IN BABICHE
AND IN AMBO
The Movement has purchased wheelchairs which will be distributed in two towns, Ambo
and Babiche where adults as well as children need them.
KENYA PROJECTS
REFORM IN ALIMENTAITA. Elections in Kenya are a time of violence and death.
Innocent people are killed and houses and families
destroyed. This is the result of fierce fighting among the
many different tribes of this vast land. As a result,
thousands have fled their homeland and ended up in the
diocese of Nakuru. The Catholic Church there made them
welcome and supplied them with land close to
Alimentaita. The Movement is doing its utmost to help
these persecuted people. It provided their children with
their first school, dug a borehole and supplies children
under ten with daily food. This year a new hall has been
built to serve as a refectory. Now these children no
longer eat sitting on the floor.
KAKAMEGA DIOCESE
BIRTH OF A REFECTORY AT KAKAMEGA.
Last year the Movement installed a good
sized kitchen for the local children. Now
the St Michael Foundation has offered
funds to the Movement so that a
refectory be built at Kakamega. Hopefully
this summer some young volunteers will
give a lick of paint to the place.
THE LAUNCH OF A GREENHOUSE
PROJECT. As the saying goes, it is better
to give a man a fishing rod than a fish.
Guided by this maxim we have this year
started an agriculture project. We have
already built a glasshouse and are
teaching adolescents how to work the
land so that they have a better future.
A NEW PROJECT AIMED TO
HELP THE POOREST FAMILIES,
Last year Fr. Grima was
accompanied by a Maltese
couple who were moved by the
great
poverty
that
they
witnessed. This couple asked Fr
Grima to give a helping hand to
the most needy families; so the
programme „SOS Families‟ was
launched. Direct monthly help
is given to various families,
mostly to those where there are
serious illnesses like AIDS. These families cannot support themselves and many of the
benefactors in this scheme have not adopted just one child but whole families.
DIOCESE OF KISUMU
A REFORM IN THE KITCHEN AND
REFECTORY
OF
THE
RANGALA
ORPHANAGE.The need has long been felt
to upgrade both the kitchen and the
refectory of the orphanage which looks
after a good number of small children. Fr
Grima undertook the necessary works and
now the project is finished and will soon be
blessed.
NEAR COMPLETION OF THE CHAPEL AT BONGA. It appears that the long awaited
chapel of the Holy Family complex is now
nearly ready and we hope that it will soon
be opened to welcome its new, young
parishioners. It is hoped that by the end of
this year Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth of
Kisumu will bless it. This home will open
its doors to children suffering from aids,
deaf mutes , blind and Albino children. The
nuns‟ religious Order of St Anne based in
Kisumu not only receives help from the
Movement but also from the Mother House
in Holland.
A NUNS‟ CONVENT IN NYAMONGE. With
God‟s help the nuns‟ convent at Nyamonge
is now finished. In the near future we will be
taking in orphans who suffer from AIDS.
This home was possible because of funds
given by the Movement and with the help of
he parish of St Mary Magdalene in the
diocese of Philadelphia.
BRAZIL- DIOCESE OF CROATA
PERITORO – A COURSE IN MUSIC
The town of Peritoro situated to the north of Brazil
is very poor. Here, the mission of the Movement
is to look after adolescents who are threatened
with drugs and violence. The Movement helped by
Italian nuns is doing its utmost to keep these
young people away from vice. To further enhance
the life of these youngsters courses in music have
started and are well attended.
KM 17 – THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN KEEPS INCREASING.
The nuns of Amor de Deus run a school
which has been a great success. The
increasing number of children and poor
families find refuge here. This year the
number of children has increased from
120 to a daily attendance of 432
children. Here children under twelve
years of age eat daily and are helped
to build a good and strong character.
DIOCESE OF MARANHAO
UPGRADING OF THE OUR LADY OF GRACE HOME,
This home is situated in a very poor quarter of Brazil where there is a leprosy hospital.
In this home we accept children coming from families suffering from this illness. As the
number of children is continuously swelling there is a dire need for expansion. With the
help of the Hard Rock Cafe‟ of Malta we are adding new halls and renovating other
areas.