FOUR Brisbane Catholic schoolteachers are calling for donations to give “joyous young children” three fully resourced kindergartens in a local village in Malawi, North East Africa.
Corrie Shand, Louella Sparks, Dianne Riddle and Dianne McRoberts, staff of St James College, Spring Hill, visited the Canossian Sisters in Malawi as part of an immersion trip over the summer school holidays.
They returned to Australia with a plan to help resource and equip three emerging kindergartens in one of the local villages called the Kindy Container Project.
The Kindy Container Project will gather donations of goods to send and furnish the emerging kindergartens looked after by the Canossian Sisters in Nsanama, a local village in Malawi.
Mrs McRoberts, who has taken on the role of project co-ordinator, said the project would support the sisters’ work in educating the young kindergarten children.
“My aim in sending stuff for the kindergartens is to support the nuns in the great opportunity that is offered to the families of these young children,” Mrs McRoberts said.
“Starting at such a young age to empower the children and instill the value of education is a worthwhile starting point to attack the cycle of disadvantage and poverty.”
Mrs McRoberts welcomed any donations of unused or excess furniture or sources, or to pass on their request to contacts or suppliers that would be in a position to donate.
Over the years, St James College has regularly donated money towards several projects in Malawi, including the three kindergartens.
“It was so good to go there and see how that money is being used to support the school and community,” she said.
But Mrs McRoberts believed the local community could do more to help resource the kindergartens by sending a container of goods.
“Any donations, contributions or alerts to contacts, networks who may be able to assist with unused or excess furniture, play equipment or resources would be greatly appreciated,” she said.
“Please be assured that any contribution to our ‘Kindy Container’, however large or small, will, alongside the inspirational Canossian Sisters, display solidarity for the disadvantaged and make a difference to the lives of the infectiously joyous young children in Malawi.”
For more information or to donate to the Kindy Container Project, contact Dianne McRoberts on 0404 866 105 or email dianne.mcroberts@stjamescollege.qld.edu.au
