The Hallowian 2020 - Flipbook - Page 40
Mercy Works
helping the poor
throughout the pandemic
Catherine McAuley is well known
for stating “The poor need help
today, not next week”. This could
not be more true than in today’s
world of the coronavirus pandemic
and its aftermath.
Mercy Works has responded
swiftly to the economic impacts of
the COVID-19 crisis on vulnerable
communities in Australia and
Papua New Guinea, focussing
resources on giving a “hand up” to
those among the hardest hit.
In Papua New Guinea, markets
supplying fresh food and clean
water for the poorer people of the
townships have been forced to
close down.
Mercy Works’ response has been
targeted towards families living in
the settlements on the outskirts of
Goroka where there is inadequate
sanitation or access to clean water.
“
“
Mercy Works has
responded swiftly to the
economic impacts of
the COVID-19 crisis on
vulnerable communities
in Australia and Papua
New Guinea
38
The Hallowian | 2019
Their situation is acute because
the closure of the nearby markets
has deprived them of their normal
source of food and drinking water.
These struggling families are being
provided with bowls in which they
can transport water back to their
houses from wells a good distance
away. These bowls, along with soap
supplied, are also used for hand
washing, to improve hygiene. In
addition, seeds and basic gardening
tools are being distributed so
the families can grow food in the
small area around their make-shift
houses.
In Australia, the Mercy Connect
refugee and asylum seeker student
mentoring program was curtailed
during the school lockdown, with
only a small number of students
being able to be supported by their
mentor remotely.
Many asylum seeker and refugee
children have found home
schooling even more challenging
than most others because of the
particular barriers to learning
which they face. This means they
have found it more difficult to cope
and have fallen further behind.
Mentoring of these disadvantaged
students is needed now more than
ever.
The Past Pupil’s Association has
been most generous in their long
term support of Mercy Works
projects. Most recently, in 2019,
PPA contributed to “Building
Bingavia”, the Whole School Project
for the renovation of boarding
facilities at the Mercy Secondary
School in Yarapos.
As women of Mercy, you can make a difference to the
lives of those in need.
The poor need your help today, so for more information
on how you can help through our works of Mercy, please
contact Kingsley Edwards at Mercy Works by email
kingsley.edwards@mercyworks.org.au or visit our
website www.mercyworks.org.au.