For several years now, a new branch of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of St Vincent de Paul in Untermarchtal has been in development in Ethiopia through the engagement of Bishop Leonardus Dobbelaar – a Vincentian from the Netherlands. Today, the 12 Ethiopian Sisters support and accompany children, adolescents, the sick, the elderly and people in need in the Nekemte diocese and Addis Ababa. For example, their commitment to children is revealed in a child nutrition project in Darge and Ambo. At the same time they administer a small clinic on the outskirts of Nekemte. The main tasks of the clinic include preventive care for expectant mothers and mother-child care after childbirth, prevention of and care for people infected with HIV, and care for patients with the disease Podoconiosis, which is very widespread in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Sisters are also involved in seeking ways to improve the social and economic position of women in the country. As a result, Sr. Martha launched a gender based project – an equal opportunities project – in partnership with the diocese of Nekemte. Women learn how to increase their income and are hence at a reduced risk of becoming homeless. Microcredits enable them to make investments and put what they have learned into practice. With the additional money they are able to pay the school fees for their children, and also carry out house repairs so that they do not only have a roof over their heads, but a home that protects them from rain and provides sufficient space for every family member. While the Sisters’ gender based project does not directly fight immediate homelessness, it does ensure that people in Ethiopia live in adequate accommodations and learn skills that reduce the risk of future homelessness.
You read more at www.missionprokura.org
Source: https://vfhomelessalliance.org/
Wonderful and dedicated Sisters who putting the Vincentian Charism into action here in Ambo town. Am glad to be able to work along side them and support their work in the KG school. Look forward to further collaboration with this branch of our Vincentian Family.