Sending Bears to Africa
Ashleigh Callow recently joined the Jesuit Missions staff to work as co-ordinator of the Companions Programme. Want to know more? read on...
The Companions Programme is a new initiative between young people of the developed and those of the developing world. Inspired by the idea that a ‘threefold cord is not quickly broken’ (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12), the programme has three strands, or cords. The first is the Jesuit schools in the UK, the second is the school, or mission, in the developing world and the third strand is the Jesuit ethos, ‘men and women for others’ that binds the programme.
It has been named ‘Companions’ as it includes not only followers of St Ignatius, but also suggests a mutual relationship of understanding and compassion - which is, ultimately, what the programme is about.
Karl Hermann SJ, the chaplain at St Rupert’s Mission, Zimbabwe, recently visited their ‘Companion’ school, St John’s Beaumont. He commended the new programme and said, ‘We now have to water it, so it will grow steadily’.
The elements which will ‘water’ this programme are: Fundraising, Awareness, Communication and Exchange (FACE). They put a ‘FACE’ to this programme, so that we remember that we are always people dealing with people. Fundraising is incredibly important, although it is not the sole purpose of the programme, but it helps to provide such things as educational materials. The remaining three aspects are the ACE card; they give young people the opportunity to go beyond just, mere ideals, and progress into action. They aim to develop ‘leaders in service, men and women of competence, conscience and compassionate commitment’(Peter-Hans Kolvenbach SJ).
The nine Jesuit schools in England and Scotland are at varying stages of involvement in the programme, but all are anxious to be fully involved.
Among the Preparatory schools, Donhead, Wimbledon, has been fundraising for St Mary’s Nyanga, South Africa. Barlborough School, Spinkhill nr. Chesterfield sends shoeboxes full of useful items, and exchanges messages with Makumbi Orphanage, Zimbabwe - this connection has now been extended to also include the primary school at Makumbi. St Mary’s Hall, Stonyhurst, through their ‘Children for Children’ scheme, has raised several thousand pounds to enabled Musami Mission, Zimbabwe, to purchase hundreds of school textbooks. They have even sent an ‘envoy’ - the school bear - to tour Musami and gather information. He is due to return shortly, with a furry friend from Zimbabwe. The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has been informed!
St Ignatius College, Enfield has been supporting several initiatives including, the Amerindian people of Guyana and Rhino Camp Education, Uganda. St Aloysius College, Glasgow, is developing contacts with St Aloysius, Kibera in Kenya. They have also raised funds for the JRS in South Africa. In 2003 Wimbledon College established links with a Dalit school in Southern India. Since then, each year, they have sent a group of pupils to India to help in the school and with the local community. Mount St Mary’s College, near Chesterfield, is linked with the Chikuni Mission in Zambia. Pupils have raised the money for a vehicle which is used for the Mission’s home-based care of HIV/AIDS sufferers. Two former Mount pupils have volunteered to work at Chikuni for the next six months.
Chirwirangwe - a Shona word, which is emblazoned on Stonyhurst College’s intranet- succinctly captures the spirit of their relationship with St Peter’s Kubatana, Zimbabwe. It refers to two villages who have united to fight against the common enemies of injustice and poverty.
The Companions Programme is growing by the day and asks for your support in many ways. The most important is for your prayers. Without a firm spiritual base, ‘we are building on sand’. You can also help financially - sending parcels and letters, paying for teachers or even supporting return-visits all costs a lot. For further details you can visit the Jesuit Missions website at:
www.jesuitmissions.org.uk
The new van used to distribute food in Chikuni.