Nenagh's Sister Kathleen Myanmar fundraising appeal

Sister Kathleen Geaney, Columban Sisters, has been based in Myanmar for the last number of years. During that time the people of Nenagh and beyond have been supporting Kathleen in her work.

The following is a copy of an email received from Kathleen.

"Dear Friends, I hope you and all your family are keeping well, especially in the midst of this global pandemic. These days, many migrant workers are returning from different parts of the world and some are testing positive for the virus. It is so difficult for them as they went out to other countries hoping to make money for their families and are back now with nothing and people are afraid that they will bring the virus with them. There is a good quarantine set up and all have to go to a government quarantine centre for 21 days.
"Here the economic effects of the lockdown have been the most painful. Many people work just for a daily income and, with that cut off, families are in difficulty. Many of the women we work with are vendors - selling food, vegetables, flowers day-by-day, and they have been badly affected.
"In our Interfaith Women’s Group we have been trying to help since before the restrictions were put in place for coronavirus. We had some training programmes on hygiene, etc, and we shared rice and oil with many women. We are continuing this food support programme.
"This is an extract from a recent report from the Women Leaders: As our vision statement says, 'To support and empower women to live with dignity and a good quality of life' we are giving Covid (emergency) loans, as they endure the economic crisis amid this pandemic.
"We are helping women who would like to start a small business and those who stopped running their businesses due to Coivd and would like to resume operations, those whose jobs have been suspended due to Covid and those who are in financial crisis.
"I thank all of you dear friends in Nenagh for your continuing interest and support at every level. It means so much to us here. God bless. Kathleen."

Brief overview detailing how the funds received have been used: 

1. The Women’s Interfaith Group have become increasingly involved in interfaith activities during the last year. They have formed very beneficial connections with women from the different faith traditions and are invited by different groups to share their festivals, etc. At Christmas the women’s group with the Columban Sisters hosted an interfaith gathering, which included tree planting. About 200 people from the different faith traditions met for breakfast in the Catholic Church compound where we planted a tree. Then we walked to a Buddhist pagoda, Hindu Temple and Mosque. 

In each place we had some sharing and planted a tree. We ended in a nearby tea house where the sharing continued. It was a very good time of building relationships and committing ourselves to work together on caring for the Earth, our common home.
The Grameen Bank continues to grow and the women’ group have become very efficient in administering this. This year two new groups are being formed among the Hindu Community. New members continue to come and many are helped to set up their own livelihood projects through taking a loan to buy a sewing machine or to set up a small business.

3. Education - 51 students have been given scholarships to study eighth, ninth and 10th standard. Each of the women leaders has her own group of scholarship students. These students come from families who want their children to be educated but have not the resources. We meet the students and their parents every two months and have a short seminar on aspects that will support their ongoing education, such as career guidance, personal development, parental support, etc.

4. Pay Pin - We continue the nutrition programme for children who live in a very poor area at the riverside. Many of these children cannot go to regular school as they have to take care of their younger brothers and sisters as their mothers work to provide for their families. We have employed a primary school teacher who teaches about 30-50 daily in the local Buddhist monastery. The hours are flexible and they can bring along their younger siblings. They are all very interested in learning.

5. New Project - We have started a new sewing project in a small and very poor village across the river. Sewing classes have begun for eight young girls. A group in this village have already learned to sew and have a small livelihood project selling blouses and skirts as school uniforms. The hope is that when the present girls have learnt to sew they will be able also to have a small livelihood also. 

Thanks to our generous and faithful donors who make all this possible. Unfortunately, this year due to Covid-19 we were unable to have our annual street collection.

If you would like to support Kathleen with her missionary work, you can contact her nephew Michael directly at 0863830857 .
You can also donate on the Go Fund Me page at the following link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-sr-kathleengeaney