Generous people in Australia, through the Australian Marist Mission office, have contributed A$1.5 million to a range of projects in Thailand, the Philippines, Burma, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Fiji, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kiribas, Timor, the Cook Islands and Wallis.
Those projects benefitting from the assistance included
- Mentally disabled
- Sufferers of HIV-AIDS
- Child protection
- Literacy projects
- Rural development
- Primary health care
- Early childhood education
- Life-skills training
- Special eduction for the deaf
- Emergence aid
- Relief assistance
- Advocacy education for the urban poor
- Burmese Migrant worker centre
Leader of one of the projects who has benefitted from the generosity of Australian people, Fr Mike McVerry has dedicated his life to bringing out the best in young Fijians. Fr McVerry developed the “University of Life” at Tutu, Fiji.
“Our challenge is to open the door for them, to enable them to take responsibility for their lives”, he said.
Grateful for the assistance, Fr McVerry said, “There is a pride in graduating from the University of Life”.
Marist Fathers’ Australian provincial, Fr Paul Cooney thanked the Australian people for their generosity. “As our Marist Mission Partners, I know you share our conviction about the dignity and worth of every human as a child of God. The social responsibility that arises from this awareness challenges all of us to act. Your generosity guarantees that a response is always possible”.
100% of donations given by Australian people are distributed by the Marist Mission office.
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