The needs of young women are a major focus for team heading to Maridi
Today, 1 December, a group of four ladies from Down and Dromore will fly to Entebbe, Uganda, as they begin a short visit to our link Diocese of Maridi in South Sudan.
Jane Corbett and Nina Coffey (Dromore Cathedral), Liz Fleming (Carryduff) and Maureen Clarke (St John’s, Kilwarlin) will spend about nine days on the ground in Maridi and they hope this will be a real encouragement to the people. It’s a trip that was originally planned for January of this year but insecurity in the country forced a postponement.
“One of our major objectives is to deliver a project with the girls in the schools and the MU,” says Jane. “It addresses issues brought to our attention by Bishop Justin’s wife, Mama Joyce.”
Some startling facts about girls and young women in Sub–Saharan Africa:
Only 1 in 5 girls make it to secondary school and in Uganda, for example, a staggering 71% of girls drop out before completing Primary 7 and 85% do not complete secondary education.
Menstruation is stigmatised with a lack of proper education and hygiene management causing girls to drop out of school
Many regard menstruation as taboo and unclean while many girls consider it to be a disease.
One way to help is to provide education around the issue of menstruation and to supply reusable pad and panties.
Jane continues: “We head out now with about 60 kgs of ready made packs and each pack should be of use for three years. We hope to teach the girls and women how to make them and if possible set up micro– finance small businesses so that this initiative may grow across the Diocese and beyond! Our team is so grateful to the folk in our parishes who have been very generous with their time, materials and money.“
Itinerary
Tuesday 2 to Kiwoko Hospital, Uganda
Thursday 4 to Maridi Diocese South Sudan
Tuesday 9 from Maridi to Kampala
Wednesday 10 Debrief in Entebbe
Thursday 11 00:50 Entebbe to London to Belfast.
The team go with the support of their parishes and our diocese so please pray for them.
Heavenly Father, as you have called Liz, Jane Maureen and Nina to Maridi, so we ask you to protect them and their families at home, and bless their mission with successful contacts and the joy of seeing your kingdom come. Amen.