Our Charity for this year is the Jacaranda Project, run by Sisters from the Order of the Holy Paraclete.
We have just sent off a cheque for £1226 to Jacaranda. This includes a one off donation of £1000 made by a local resident. However, we have just received this letter from Sr Carol and Sr Karan at Jacaranda regarding the future of the project:
"Eleven years ago in December 1999 we welcomed our first six children into Jacaranda in Manzini. Since then we have welcomed more girls and upgraded our houses. Seeking the best for our children and their future influenced our decision to move to Bulembu in January 2006. Not long after we arrived, the village was taken over by Bulembu Ministries Swaziland (BMS) and a great deal of development has taken place since then. We have benefited from the newly established bakery, dairy, school and other projects. The BMS orphan care programme continues to expand rapidly and the vision to build a vibrant, selfsustaining community is being realised. Most of our children are unable to return to their families or extended families and we believe that becoming fully integrated into BMS would give them a greater sense of belonging to a Swazi community. In view of this, we have decided, with the support and blessing of our community Chapter, that Jacaranda should merge with BMS. We are currently in the initial stages of planning with a view to the full integration taking place at the end of 2011. Once we are satisfied that the children have settled well Sister Karan and I will withdraw from the Jacaranda Project and return to the UK. During the past eleven years we have been able to provide a stable family home and sound education because of your support throughout the years. We are very grateful for your generosity, concern and prayers and we hope that you will continue to support us until the end of the year. We feel that this move is in accordance with the vision of BMS to incorporate all projects and ministries into one body and are confident that our children will be well cared for and that BMS will continue to build on the foundation that OHP has laid. We ask for your prayers during the next few months, with our love and gratitude, Srs Carol and Karan"
Clearly this will be a difficult and emotional time for the sisters and the children at Jacaranda and I hope that we will continue to support them with our prayers and giving.
Click here to see the latest news about the Jacaranda Project.
