Peru Newsletter

Peru Newsletter pERU COMMISSION At the last Peru Commission meeting, Kim-Ann Walters was farewelled as the outgoing Chair. She was thanked for her leadership, dedication and vision and was acknowledged for her continued work in social justice, especially in Peru. The meeting then welcomed Kirstin Johnston rsj as the new Chair of the Peru Commission. Sr Kristin brings to the Committee a wide range of experience from her years in teaching and social welfare. Mary MacKillop International Mission Inc Dr Kristin Johnston rsj Dr Kristin Johnston is a Sister of St Joseph with qualifications in Teaching. She also has a Bachelor of Social Science Degree and a PhD. Dr Kristin Johnston is currently a member of the Institute for Advancing Community Engagement at Australian Catholic University. Community engagement is the process through which the University works collaboratively with community groups and organisation to achieve mutually agreed goals that build capacity, improve well-being, and produce just and sustainable outcomes in the interests of people and their communities in the hope of a better tomorrow. Kristin’s background includes many years as an educator in primary schools, pioneering the role of the Religious Education Co-ordinator (REC) in Josephite primary schools and working as the Coordinator of Motor Missioners and Catechists in the Archdiocese of Canberra-Goulburn. In 1982 Kristin commenced at Australian Catholic University. She has been a member of the Faculty of Education lecturing in Religious Education as well as Education to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Kristin had leadership roles in professional studies, adult community education and life long learning and was the Assistant Head of the School of Education NSW. Recently Dr Johnston had five years leave without pay from the ACU when she was the Executive Director of Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes, now Catholic Religious Australia. Until December 2008 Dr Johnston was a member of the Catholic Education Commission NSW (CECNSW) and was the Deputy Chair for about 15 years. Among other functions the CECNSW acts as the representative voice of Catholic education in negotiations with government, statutory bodies, educational institutions, public authorities and community organisations. Furthermore, it acts as the official agency for the distribution of funds allocated under government-financed education programs with Statewide application, co-ordinates the administration of those programs and meets appropriate accountability requirements. Kristin represented the Commission at regular delegations to State Ministers, Shadow Ministers, other Government Officers and specific interest groups in the wider community. She currently chairs the Catholic Education and Social Welfare Coordinating Committee of the CECNSW. Until recently Kristin was a member of the Board of Catholic Social Services Australia. She is currently a member of the Australian Catholic Commission for Employment Relations. Kristin has done research in a number of areas including Child Protection policies, Special Education services, Religious Literacy, evaluation of projects and ground breaking research at both state and national levels on the access of the poor to Catholic schools. St Joseph’s Australian Peruvian Mission Associates is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and is a signatory to the ACFID Code of Conduct. The code requries members to meet high standards of corporate governance, public accountability and financial management. 9 Mount Street, PO Box 1508, North Sydney, 2059 : Phone 9929 7344 : Fax 8912 4833 email - PeruCommission@sosj.org.au : www.sosj.org.au ABN 88 808 531 480 June 2009 dEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Women in development projects Single mother’s project This project is designed to teach single mothers skills and craftsmanship in the production of goods made from cow horn. The women learn how to cut / polish different designs in order to make jewellery, spoons, forks, bowls, jewellery boxes etc. The aim of this project is to empower single mothers with skills and knowledge. It is hoped that the products they make can be either sold on the streets or abroad, allowing the women to get income so that they can support and feed their children. The project is being run and monitored by Sr Margaret Malady and Percy Huertas Vagas in Motupe. The initial cost of establishing this project has been $3000 soles. At the completion of this one year project it is hoped that the women will have developed sufficient skills to be able to buy and sell their goods. The project currently aims to have 6 to 10 single mothers in permanent employment within 6 months. Some of the goods made to date are currently being sold through Ethica Accessories. Farming and agricultural development The garden project at Tarma provides women with the opportunity to meet and learn new skills in farming and agricultural development. The women are highly committed to the growing of vegetables and are cultivating alfalfa for the Guinea Pig Project. Guinea Pig Project As reported in the March newsletter, Srs Dorothy Stevenson and Patricia Day work with the local women on this project. The Peru Commission approved and funded the construction of a new house for the guinea pigs and this has now been built. The aim of this project is to breed the guinea pigs for sale, enabling families (particularly women) to have a steady little income. Combined with the gardening project above, the project also aims to show families living in the hills of Tarma that sustainable and eco-friendly living is possible. Workshop for developing skills in dressmaking This project involves training local women in dressmaking. The aim of the workshop is to build on the women’s current skills and capacity so that they can generate an income to support their families. The workshop currently being run in Descanso will benefit 50 families. Although Sr Eilish Curtin is no longer working in this region, the workshops are being co-ordinated by a local woman Natividad Sila Pauccara Hancco and the local Padre, Juan Marcus Vigroux Barthe. This project aims to run workshops for a year. After this time it is hoped that the women would be able to seek employment in dressmaking or obtain microloans to fund dressmaking enterprises. The initial cost of establishing these workshops with teachers, machinery and materials has been nearly $7000 soles. Other small and ongoing programs In Pitumarca, Srs Angela Carroll and Cathy Dean run numerous development initiatives for the women including leadership courses; sewing courses; knitting classes; cooking classes; and card making classes. Many of the handcrafts which are sold through Ethica Accessories are made by the women here and in Tarma. In Motupe, Sr Margaret Malady and Clare Conaglen run workshops for older women where they gather for afternoon tea and learn handcrafts, dancing or citizen rights. RECENT CHANGES AND NEWS As you know, in January 2008, the entity previously known as St Joseph’s Australian Peruvian Mission Associates Incorporated changed its name to Mary MacKillop International Mission Incorporated. The ATO recently wrote to us to advise that the change of name for the fund which administers tax deductible donations for overseas aid had been approved. In non-technical terms this means that the fund that receives tax deductible donations for the projects mentioned above has changed its name to Mary MacKillop International Mission Fund. The work, mission and objectives of the sisters in Peru have not changed at all. Mary MacKillop International Mission Incorporated continues to provide for the relief of persons in countries which are on the list of developing countries approved by the Minister of Foreign Affairs; provide aid for persons in needy circumstances by providing relief, education, accommodation and food sustenance; and to provide funding for the relief and development work in Peru carried out by the Sisters of St Joseph. It is important to note that as an overseas aid gift deductible recipient, we are required to comply with the AusAID guidelines for tax deductibility. These guidelines state the kinds of projects and works which are considered development (and therefore tax deductible) and those works which are considered to be welfare (and therefore non tax deductible). The Sisters of St Joseph will continue to support the needy people of Peru through education, scholarships, basic health services and many other ongoing projects even though many of these works are not tax deductible. Your continued support is very much appreciated and without your donations, projects like the Fe y Alegria school in Tarma, would not be possible. Annual Report Today the work of Mary MacKillop International Mission Inc (MMIM) includes Peru, East Timor and Brazil with the possibility of supporting projects in Cambodia and Vietnam. To view the Annual Report for 2007-2008 visit www.sosj.org.au/about/peru/index Around the middle of 2008, the North Leichardt Associates had a gathering and Sr Helen Saunders (Coordinator) was present. She had recently returned from Peru, where she spent a month visiting the Sisters who live and work among the poor. Sister Helen used a PowerPoint presentation of her visit and all present were overwhelmed with the poverty. On the way home we talked about what we could do to help the Sisters in their Mission, and decided that the proceeds from the sale of craft items could go to Peru. We then asked Sr Helen to attend our Craft group to show them the slides, which she did. The sale date was 24 October, 2008 and to our surprise we raised $1531.00. To complete the exercise Sr Helen came to our gathering on 7th November, 2008 to collect the cheque on behalf of the Sisters. Thanks to everyone who participated in this fund raising effort! Columba’s Craft Group Columba’s Craft Group North Leichardt North Leichardt Kath Carter, North Leichardt CONTACT US VIA OUR NEW EMAIL We now have an email address. If you would like to receive your next newsletter via your email, please contact us at - PeruCommission@sosj.org.au WE WILL ADD YOU TO OUR LIST AND SAVE POSTAGE AND THE TREES.!!! About time we all change our spending habits. Imagine the impact if each of us chose to buy only one item of fair trade. ethica accessories * impact can be felt. About Fair time! Poverty is a global cultural issue, and the proactive work being done by Fair Trade organisations such as Ethica is a modern sustainable solution approach to an age old problem. We were just part of Fair Trade Fortnight, an annual event held in various locations throughout Australia. What an incredible experience, we met great people, saw some amazing products and had fun. We realised it doesn’t take much for the community to collectively be able to create change in the marketplace. By influencing a large number of consumers an immediate We should all be aware of the importance of fair trade to marginalised communities and the work ethica is doing to help realise these ideals. Our choices can change not only our lifestyles but those of others. Remember that by buying an Ethica product you are helping to ensure a more sustainable and secure future for the women in Peru. We provide a lifeline and education for the women, their families and ultimately the community in which they live. They rely on sales in Australia, so help us, help them, and make a difference in their lives. Help us relieve poverty. On Sunday 15th March Maria Cecilia Paiva made her Life Commitment in the Congregation in the Church of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, in one of the areas where the Sisters have worked in Lima. peru professions The community had painted and decorated the Church for the occasion and were delighted to have Maria Cecilia's ceremony in their community. Sisters from Peru, Brazil and Australia attended the ceremony as well as Associates, other religious and Maria Cecilia's family and many friends. After Mass the chairs were moved back and the dancing started! There were several groups of dancers in costume as well as community dancing into the evening. Roxana Apaza Ccallo was professed as a Sister of St Joseph in Lima on Friday evening 13th March. Sister Anne Derwin, Congregational Leader of the Sisters of St Joseph, received Roxana´s vows during Mass in the Sisters' garden, where 22 Sisters, Roxana's parents from Pitumarca and many Associates participated. Roxana and her parents, wore the traditional dress of her region. The rejoicing, dancing and singing carried on into the night! Roxanna Maria Cecilia Enclosed is my cheque or money order payable to Mary MacKillop International Mission Inc. OR please debit my Visa  Mastercard Credit Card # ________________________________________ Expiry Date _____________________________________________ for $ _______________________ Name ________________________________ (please print) Signature ___________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________________________________ I would like to support  Guinea Pig Project Dental Clinic Women in Development  Farming & Agricultural Development ‘Comedor’ (Common Kitchen)  I do not require a tax recept but would like to support other worthwhile projects such as the Fe Y Alegria School, Primary Education Scholarships, Basic health care programs and other social/welfare services organised through the Sisters of St Joseph in Peru. If you would like any more information on these projects, please contact us at perucommission@sosj.org.au Donations of $2.00 or more are tax deductible.