Bulletin No.38 of Walking Together
P.1－2 : “The new
year begins” by Sr. Adriana Juarez Navarrete, regional superior of Sierra
Leone , reports on the
following:
- The 2022-2023 school year started in
September and children are happily coming to school. Even for children who are
busy helping out at home, they have a place to be “themselves” by coming to
school.
- While the influence that the global
economic crisis has on education is a concern, Sr. Adriana Juarez Navarrete is
thankful that the sisters stood by and supported the children as much as
possible so that they have high hopes and dreams for the future.
- Emiko Ikegami, a Japanese volunteer came
to help with folding origami and reading books in kindergarten, and acting in
middle school, and it was all a great experience for the children.
- Sr. Adriana Juarez Navarrete sees hopes
in the smiles of the children and sends her appreciation to Walking Together
for all the support.
P.2－3 : Report from
Sr. Shirahata
Sr. Shirahata departed Japan as planned on
September 23rd, but could not get a flight to Africa from Turkey.
She spent 2 nights at a hotel nearby, but still could not get a flight and came
back to Japan.
She flew to Turkey again on October 3rd,
but could not get a flight that day into Africa, so after spending a night
there, she was able to get on a flight to Sierra Leone. She arrived at Lungi
Airport on the 6th and was able to get to school on the 11th.
She felt so happy being warmly welcomed and she says she has been very happy
with teaching music, etc.
Inflation has raised prices for rice and
gasoline, but Sr. Shirahata is thankful of all the support which helps provide
lunch for the children and she also hopes to use the sewing machine soon.
She wraps up by sending her thanks to god
and supporter for being able to stay healthy and being together with the
children of Sierra Leone
She also says that she will help train
Emiko Ikegami until the end of November.
P.3－5 : “Charity
Garage Sale Fellowship” by Seiko Shimada (representative)
Seiko Shimada started the garage sale with
a friend in 1985, to help with a priest who was in need of money. Soon after,
she learned about the Sr. Shirahata and Sr. Negishi’s activities in Africa and
lead to supporting the schools of Sierra Leone as well. She contributes to many
activities to support Sierra Leone.
2013 was a sad with Sr. Negishi’s loss, but
was also a new greeting with Sr. Yoshida. In 2018, she meets Mr. and Mrs.
Sugano at an awards ceremony at Foundation for Encouragement of Social
Contribution, where Sr. Shirahata and Sr. Yoshida were awarded. Since then they
have been in close contact.
Ｐ.5－7 : “Research
on bridging Sierra Leone and Home Economics” by Professor Kaori Murakami,
Hiroshima University Faculty of Education.
In
2020, when Professor Murakami visited the Sierra Leone Maria Ines Vocational
Training School, she saw the sewing training and felt she needed to support as
well as to connect that to the studies of the students of Hiroshima University.
However, classes could not be conducted as planned with COVID.
However, through Sr. Shirahata’s stitching
and buying a sewing machine, the students got to know Sierra Leone better and
they started to think about what they could do to support the country.
When presenting at the Academic Conference
in Atlanta, she was encouraged by a professor that responded “Good Job!
Continue!”. Professor Murakami wraps up with hopes to doing more research to
bridge Sierra Leone and Home Economics.
P.7―8 : Voices from
supporters such as below
“Always praying for you. Hope the children
are all very well” “Could see how much Sr. Shirahata cares about the children
in Sierra Leone. Very respectable” “Thank you for the
bulletin. God is always looking…”
P.8 : Announcement from Headquarters.
Details on the meeting on September 17th, and the support funds that
were sent on November 18th.
（PHOTOS）
P.1 : (left) Sr. Adriana Juarez Navarrete
and the children
(right) A plate of lunch brings smiles to children
P.2 : (right) Volunteer – Emiko Ikegami
P.3 : Charity Garage Sale (August 2002)
P.4 : Sr. Negishi and friends
P.5 : Visiting Sr. Shirahata
P.6 : (left) Welcome Party at the
International Nursing Conference
(right) Professor Murakami in front of her
presentation
P.7 : Nursing conference at Georgia
University
p.8 : Children full of energy
Article：Hiroko
Maruyama; Translation : Ayako Nokuo