HOLY CROSS HOME

SUIDERBERG

(Non Profit Organisation Number: 001-736)

Phone:      (012) 379 8559                                                                           P.0. Box 48775

Fax:          (012) 379 6067                                                                          HERCULES

       E-mail:      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it                                                               0030

Mobile:     0027 726787449                                                                        PRETORIA,

                           South Africa

Dear Friends of Education for Life

I pray my letter finds you all well.  Once again I take this opportunity to thank you sincerely for your ongoing kindness and support of our various projects here in South Africa. 

I am happy to share with you how we recently used your contribution.  As you know the Holy Cross Sisters have a pre-school, crèche, day-care centre and after-care centre for +/- 200 vulnerable and HIV/AIDS children at an informal settlement called Plastic View.  This year we have experienced a very severe winter with temperatures dropping below zero.  You may laugh but for South Africa that is a very rare occasion and even more uncommon was the presence of snow in all nine provinces of the country.  I could not believe my eyes when snow fell on the car window screen.  I was so excited!  Hence in the severity of the cold winter we bought each of our children a blanket, two pillows, a track-suit, hat, gloves, socks and bath towel.  It was wonderful.  Please see the photos attached.  I waited for my parents and Sean to arrive to help with the distribution of the parcels to bring the whole experience to the centre and for them to meet the children.  We had two lovely days.  You will also see in some photos the building of a new jungle gym for the children.  This was also made possible from other kind donations raised during fundraising events in the Tullylish and surrounding areas prior to the visit of my family.  Your kindness has brought much joy to so many children.   

Next year August 2013 Education For Life will celebrate its 10^th anniversary in Southern Africa.  Your contribution over the years to sustain the programme remains deeply appreciated.  Although I am not directly involved with the daily run of the programme since I returned to education however, I do use the method in the schools where I work and among all other groups of youth and adults alike.  For me it remains the best way to help our young people reflect on life and hopefully live from their deepest values and convictions.

I am saddened that all the beautiful soft toys and other valuable clothing (first communion and wedding dresses) that the parishioners donated in July 2011 have not yet arrived.  I managed to speak to the man who was responsible for the delivery and he told me that they have not yet left Ireland, as promised.  I hope that you will understand that the intention to get the toys for the orphans and HIV/AIDS children remains a hope to be fulfilled.  Maybe next Christmas!!!  The boxes were to be put on the container from the Lurgan Methodist Church and shipped to Durban where I was to collect them.  I will let you know as soon as they arrive.   

Please be assured of my ongoing prayers for you and your families. 

Yours sincerely

Sr. Bernadette Duffy

SNOW OUTSIDE THE KITCHEN WINDOW!!