Breaking the cycle of repeated criminal behavior in Cameroon

Oct 18, 2010

DOUALA, LITTORAL PROVINCE, CAMEROON -- The Self-Help Training Center for Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners was designed for prisoners in and from the New Bell Prison in Douala to break the cycle of repeated criminal behavior. It aims to help inmates acquire self-reliant skills while in prison so that they can lead useful, productive lives upon their release.

The Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, who initiated this project in 2003, are devoted to the care of the poor. A priority work of mercy for their congregation is prison ministry.

Sisters teaching youths to lead in Nigeria

Mar 24, 2010

DELES Training and Education on HIV/AIDS
Enugu, Enugu State, and Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

ENUGU, ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

DELES is an acronym for "Development Education and Leadership Services." It is a not-for-profit, non-governmental Nigerian organization that began at a time when the Nigerian Catholic Church was eager to get the faithful involved in pastoral work.

Developing Nicaragua with schools, bakeries and job training

Jan 20, 2010

Integral Development Project: Centro Santa Teresa de Jesus

GRANADA, DEPT. OF GRANADA, NICARAGUA

The Integral Development Project (IDP) is located in the rural community of Los Cocos, about ten miles from Granada, Nicaragua. It consists of a school, a bakery, job training, and agricultural projects.

The work of the Sisters of the Society of St.Teresa of Jesus in Nicaragua began in 1980 during a national literacy campaign. Since their mission is education and pastoral work, the sisters opened a school in Los Cocos. Contact with the people living in the rural community of Los Cocos helped them become more acutely aware of their needs: nutrition, transportation, training in agriculture and job creation. A response to these needs took the form of a human promotion initiative in 1994 and later grew into the Integral Development Project.

Providing support for HIV/AIDS patients in Zimbabwe

Dec 2, 2009

The Rutendo HIV/AIDS Project

GWERU, MIDLANDS PROVINCE, ZIMBABWE

The Rutendo HIV/AIDS project was initiated in 2003, by Sisters of the Child Jesus, to provide human and social relief for people infected with HIV/AIDS. The project is located in Mkoba High Density suburb on the West side of Gweru City in the Midlands Province of central Zimbabwe. Besides providing food, clothes, herbal medicine, nutrition counseling, and bereavement support to home-based patients, the program has mobilized the community for HIV/AIDS workshops that raise awareness of the need for behavior change to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, especially among youth-leaders and young adults.

In a recent General Chapter, the Sisters of the Child Jesus (SCJ) officially declared their commitment to help people infected and affected by the current devastating HIV/AIDS pandemic. Two SCJ sisters spearheaded the endeavor and seven others provided administrative and governance support. Three lay people (two social workers and an administrative assistant/accountant) were employed to assist the sisters.