- St Cuthbert's Way Walk
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Helen and Jill are asking for your help to build a future for children in Sri Lanka and South Africa.Going the distance... changing lives....
They are walking the St Cuthberts way, 62 miles from Melrose to Lindisfarne and would like you to sponsor them as they raise money for work among children and young people in South Africa and Sri Lanka.
The walk will take place from Thursday 20th May 2010 to Tuesday 25th May 2010. The money raised will be split between the Itekeng Project in the Diocese of the Free State and Smile Lanka.
Itekeng Orphan and Vulnerable Children Centre is situated in the township of Meqheleng on the outskirts of Ladybrand. The centre caters for disabled children, children who are orphaned by HIV and AIDS and other children who are vulnerable for whatever reason. Many of the children are looked after by siblings or aging relatives because of the death of parents of AIDS. Some of them are the main carers in their families. Most of the children have no birth papers and so they can’t access mainstream education. The centre caters for over one hundred children some of whom stay at the centre permanently. The accommodation block is one small room housing children of mixed ages and genders. There are two small classrooms with little equipment where the children are educated and the centre has three outside toilets. The staff at the centre often go without pay and often provide the food for the children form their own homes. Small amounts of money will go a long way to make life better for the children and staff of Itekeng, please help.
Smile Lanka is a school for the very poorest children in Hambanota Sri Lanka. It was established after the devastating impact of the Tsunami in 2004 as a place where children would be fed, educated and loved.
The primary aim of Smile Lanka is to boost the children’s self esteem and confidence so that they dare to hope for a brighter future. Smile Lanka provides the children who attend with at least one good meal a day, preschool nursery in the morning and lessons for 5 – 14 year olds in the afternoons.
The staff of the school pray that they enable children in their care to break free from the poverty cycle and experience life in all its fullness. Smile Lanka is a Christian charity and the majority of income is through child sponsorship. This project is in desperate need of a new classroom and resources. A little money can go along way to making a massive difference to the lives of these beautiful children.
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To sponsor Helen and Jill please go to http://www.bdeducation.org.uk/shop/sponsor-us/sponsor-jill-and-helen-on-their-walk-along-st-cuthbert-s-way-from-melrose-to-lindisfarne-bdbespon.html- Ground Breaking for Buckshaw Village School
The photograph shows Andrew Mashiter representing the Methodist Church and Archdeacon John Hawley wielding their spades watched by representatives from the Board of Education, local churches and the school.... More >>
- Archbishop's visit to Bishop Rawstorne C of E Technology College
IMG class=leftAlign style="WIDTH: 184px; HEIGHT: 131px" height=336 alt="" src="/resources/images/201001bishrawst.JPG" width=448 border=0>For a report of the visit by Tracy Swindells
Lead Teacher Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Language College please click here... More >>- Archbishop of Canterbury presents 50th Child Friendly Church Award
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams presented the 50th Child Friendly Church Award to St Leonard's Padiham during his visit to the diocese.... More >>
- Worms at Work - Tatham Fells School's Harvest Display
Thatham Fells School have sent us photographs of their harvest display, inspired by the 'Worms at Work' pack Click on the title to see them... More >>
- Re-Source Diocesan Youth Conference 2009
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- Youth Pilgrimage to the Free State
“We had a visit to the township in Meqheleng where we visited a primary school, an orphanage for children with disabilities, orphans and vulnerable children, and finally a hospice. The orphanage (Itekeng) was so run down und under equipped yet the children were so happy to see us. We shared simple things with them like stickers and balloons yet made such an impact for a short period of time. Hearing some of the stories of the young people was heart rending. Some of the small children have been sexually abused, others suffering from physical and mental disability. Many of the children have no birth certificate or other identification papers and this means that they can’t access mainstream education and so they are educated in two small classrooms on the site. Having had this moving experience we moved onto a hospice called ‘Gethsemane’. It was a hospice due to close down in September which was difficult to hear but even more difficult when we met the patients. It was a real privilege for me and others to escort the Bishop as he prayed with these dying patients. This was very emotional for all of us and at the debriefing session, the bishop shared that the day had been the most moving and blessed of his 36 years of ministry. We also learned that the first young girl with whom the bishop had prayed had died moments later and this affected everyone in the group.
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- Hong Kong delegation visit Blackburn
Exciting initiative and new Links in education being forged with the Province of Hong Kong & Macau by Church Schools in Lancashire.
In April, as guests of the Venerable Peter Ballard, Director of the Diocese of Blackburn, Board of Education, a delegation from the Church of England Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, visited the diocese. Timothy Ha, Education Advisor to the Archbishop of Hong Kong, invited Peter Ballard and a group of advisors from the Blackburn Diocese, in February to explore the possibilities of partnership and development. Following this visit Timothy Ha accompanied by the Very Reverend Andrew Chan, Dean of Hong Kong and members of the Board of Education are made a return visit to Lancashire. The Province is seeking to share its experiences and again further understanding and knowledge in order to develop their Church Schools. This will be based on the success and distinctiveness of the Blackburn Diocese model. Their visit here focussed on the excellence and achievement found in our local Church Schools.... More >>