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Tasmanian Anglican

April 2003

 

ABM-A special projects - two in one for 2003

from Judy Goede

 

 

Each year all ABM Auxiliaries combine to support a National ('Special') project.

In 2002 the 'Kerina Evangelists' College PNG' project was exceptionally well supported: the goal of $40,000 was exceeded by almost $10,000.

The Special Project for 2003, 'Bringing Light through Health and Literacy', has a double focus for Papua New Guinea: a building project at St Mary's Health Sub-Centre (budget $24,000); and the Aipo Rongo Women's Literacy Project, which will provide teacher training in basic literacy (budget $9,000).

Bringing Light through Health: St Mary's Health Sub-Centre

At the St Mary's Sub-Centre at Tarakwaruru there is a pressing need for a new in-patients' ward. It is on the sea front, in a poor state of repair and subject to flooding from the sea. The project plans to build a new in-patients' ward on higher ground, next to the outpatients' department.

Bringing Light through Literacy: teacher training and equipping in the Diocese of Aipo Rongo

This project focuses on the high degree of illiteracy among rural women in PNG. This often affects women's status within communities, re-enforcing the traditional gender inequalities characteristic of rural areas. Many women have never been to school, or went for only a few years and have forgotten most of what they learnt. The literacy project had its beginnings at Simbai when Aileen Gardham met with Mothers' Union members while her then Diocesan Secretary husband Martin was at a meeting of Synod. The Project will train teachers for basic literary classes in Pidgin (more common than English), and over two years they will teach reading and writing skills to 30 classes of 15 women each. Funds raised for the project will be used to recruit teachers and to buy locally available basic classroom materials.

The National Office has produced a Special Project Kit for use by ABM Auxiliaries and affiliated groups in promoting 'Bringing Light'. Kits are available from Mrs Ann Swifte, P.O. Box 429 Moonah, 7009. Please support fund raising functions for these programs, and pray that our efforts may be as productive as in the year just passed.