Summary of Walking Together Bulletin No. 45
P.1 Report on the educational activities by Sr. Josephine
Kamara, the regional superior
The new semester begins with a prayerful opening mass. In this mass, we
thank God for our safe return from the holidays. We also pray that God
will be with us for the coming semester. All students and teachers, the
majority of whom (about 93%) are Muslim, participate in this mass.
In addition, 12th December is the biggest feast day for
the Clarissan Missionary and at OLG School, the morning starts with Holy Mass,
followed by a procession and parade, and the school celebrates this day.
The most enjoyable thing for all the students is to have a special meat lunch
once a year, and they expressed their gratitude to "Walking Together
Association" for preserving this tradition. The photo below shows
children happily opening the lunch with meat.
P.2 A letter from Sister Shirahata, who has
been under medical treatment at Mile 91 Clinic since February. She begins
by writing "I miss each and every one of you in the "Walking
Together" Association so much, and apologize for not writing to you for so
long," and reports on her life at the clinic. She says that she has
contracted malaria and had a stomach scan at a hospital in Freetown. She
concluded by saying "I will continue to think of you all. Please
keep me in your prayers. I pray that God will protect each and every one
of you."
P.2 ～P.4 The 2024 Annual and Financial Report by Sr.
Esmeralda Franco, Sierra Leone District Accountant of Clarissan Missionary.
The number of students enrolled in the five schools belonging to OLG Tamagawa
Shirayuri Kindergarten, OLG Elementary School, OLG Junior and Senior High
School,
Maria Ines Junior and Senior High School, and Maria Ines Vocational Training
School, are listed. 2,604 students are studying in total.
The support amount for School lunch support, Scholarships,
Multipurpose support, Kindergarten teachers’ salary subsidies, Mile 91 Clinic
support,
OLG medical support etc. A total of US$65,562 was provided.
Next,
The following details are provided: - What ingredients were purchased each
month with the school lunch support fund and labor costs for chefs, etc. -
Details of educational support for poor kindergarten children. - A list of
university students receiving scholarships and their details. - Details of
maintenance work at each school with multi-purpose support. - The need for
salary subsidies for kindergarten teachers and staff, and the details of that
support. - Details of medical support for OLG schools. - The need for support
for Mile 91 Clinic, and the details of that support. - Designated support funds
from Japan Catholic Missionaries Abroad: Regarding the provision of stationery
for kindergarten children. - Support for the cost of purchasing Christmas
gifts, support for special lunch, etc.
The support amount for 8 university students from OLG High
School was US$800 - 1,200 per person.
The names of the 8 students are listed.
P.5 The essay "What I like" by Isha Juliana
Kamara, a third grade elementary school student, and the letter "Thank you
to everyone in Japan" by Rebecca F. Bangura, a first grade junior high
school student, are introduced. The photo of Isha's essay is also on page
8. Rebecca introduces the proverb "When you educate a girl, you
educate a country."
P.5-6 Introduction of the "Momoyo
Pouch" by Professor Kaori Murakami of Faculty of Education of the
Hiroshima University. Professor Murakami visited the Maria Ines
Vocational Training School in March this year to provide guidance aimed at
improving skills. The pouches that the students made during this visit
are introduced to supporters in Japan as "Momoyo(=Thank you) Works,"
and the article introduces her efforts to deepen ties with the local community
and encourage the local students through their distribution of the pouches.
A photo of the pouch is on page 8.
P.6-7 Seventeen letters are introduced
from among the comments sent to the headquarters by supporters. We
introduce some of them here.
- Sister Shirahata, please take good care of yourself.
I am praying for you and for the children. T.O., Tokyo
- I always display photos of children in Sierra Leone in my
room and pray for them. E.A. Shizuoka pref.
- The desire to help the children of Sierra Leone has become
one circle of many people and has continued for so long. I'm so
moved. It's really amazing. Y.H., Hyogo pref.
P.7 right: "Announcement from the Headquarters"
- Regarding the increase in postal
fees, the headquarters policy is explained.
- The headquarters general meeting of the "Walking
Together Association" held on 14th September, 2024.
P.8 Photos.
-Momoyo works
-Sisters, please come in too
-Morning prayer at kindergarten
-Look! Look! Sister Shirahata gave us dolls!
-Isha's essay
＜Translator: Ayako Yamamoto＞