Babelfish Translation
FOR
RNDMs, Associates, Friends and Sponsors
May solidarity with Jesus this Lent enliven our RNDM mission solidarity
March 2001
RNDM Mission Solidarity News is published four times each year – March, June, September and December.
RNDM Mission Solidarity is the RNDM office that promotes mission solidarity in communications and in funding
for the missionary works of the 900 Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions in 20 countries world wide.
ALL are invited to contribute to our RNDM mission solidarity funds.
RNDM Mission Projects for 2001
This year the list of RNDM mission projects includes India Central, India South, Kenya, Myanmar, Philippines and Senegal. All the details of their project can be found on the web page of each of those countries. It is marvellous to see how much can be done for these people with so few dollars - and, of course, with your help!
Report from Tluh, India North East <from Sisters Philomena and Candida>
The youngest mission of our Indian Sisters in the north is at Tluh,
about 150 km from Shillong in the remote east of the Jaintia Hills. The Pnar people of
this region have their own dialect – different from the Khasis. The few Catholics
among the Pnars are very poor but they welcomed the Sisters by setting aside some of their
land for a convent and dispensary. 
The children in the surrounding villages often
have to work for the family living and do not get the chance of schooling after 9 or 10
years of age. To encourage the village parents to let their children go to school a little
longer, the Sisters would like to start – as soon as possible - a small hostel to
welcome them in Tluh. [Photo: Tluh children]
Report from Matuu, Kenya <from Sister Helen >
Matuu is a rural area town of about 50,000 subsistence farmers and small
traders – 75% of whom live below the poverty line. For many years now our Sisters
have run a dispensary and maternity centre here that caters for the town and for some of
the surrounding rural area. 
Famine and the lack of a water source impact on the everyday life of the people – particularly the mothers of families. The Mother and Child Health programme provides pre-natal, maternity and post-natal care, regular immunisation and curative treatment – and, just as importantly, teaches the rules of basic hygiene. As well as the workload at the home dispensary, which has recently been replaced by a larger building, the dispensary staff undertake five outreach safaris which take immunisations, curative and ante-natal fieldwork out to some of the villages. Photo: Sister Brigid is so grateful for the new dispensary.
Part of the old dispensary has been converted into an approved laboratory to enable immediate diagnosis of doubtful cases. The centre is also addressing the widespread difficulties of AIDS problems and prevention. The Centre and the outreach programme to the handicapped of the district work in close liaison and maintain contact with other local agencies.
This work has attracted funding from Ireland and England as well as from various agencies.
Report from Viet Nam
Bu Dang Health Programme <from Sister M Jean Baptiste>
Bu Dang is situated about 160 kilometres north of Ho Chi Minh City and
is within walking distance for a number of the Montagnard villages. The Montagnard are
a tribal subsistence people who have been pushed off their land or have
traditionally lived in remote areas of hill country. They are very poor, have little
access to formal education and have many health problems. The Sisters have established a
dispensary for the people at Bu Dang and regularly treat 20 – 30 cases each day.
There are a few beds so that when necessary the sick can stay for a few days;
sometimes they walk for a whole day to get to the dispensary! 
Photo above: Sister M Jean
Baptiste with the sick who are staying for a few days
Photo left: Sister training her medics.
During 2000 RNDM Solidarity money enabled Sister M Jean to train a group of 10 medics
in the use of medicines. The medics were each set up with a medical box for visiting the
Montagnard villages.
Minh Hung Village Wells Project <from Sister Minh Nha Tran Thi Gin>
Minh Hung is not far from Bu Dang. The Sisters here have developed a small pre-school for about 90 children, as a source of income. One Sister runs the pre-school; the others visit and catechise amongst the Montagnard people.
During 2000 Sister Minh Nha used RNDM Solidarity money to start building 14 wells in Montagnard villages in the Minh Hung and Bu Dang areas. Clean water in a village is the beginning of much improved health for everyone there.
Photo below: Happiness is having clean water in your village
Sacred Heart Safe House, Saigon <from Sister Sheila O’Toole>
Sister Sheila and Sister M Dominique have been working quietly for some time now to establish this safe house in Saigon for young women who want to be helped to escape from street life and to start again. Some girls hear about the Safe House and come themselves; others are referred by other agencies, now that the centre is approved.
The Safe House provides a place of safety for young women to have safe entertainment, to learn skills, to attend various classes and to regain their dignity as persons of worth. Classes in factory sewing, hairdressing, running a small business, health and recreation are all offered in the house. Already a number of girls have ‘graduated’ into their new independence and one has even returned as a tutor!
Funds for this work have come from NOVIB, Holland and the New Zealand Embassy.
Photo above left: Sister M Dominique with some of the girls at the entrance to their Safe House
Donations for RNDM mission works can be handed to any Sister of Our Lady of the Missions.
For further information contact :
COORDINATOR RNDM MISSION SOLIDARITY
Sister Mary Rose Holderness,
Suore di Nostra delle Missioni
Casa Generalizia
Via di Bravette, 628
00164 ROMA
Italy
Email : fundraiser@rndmgen.org