Profiles of our Lay Missionaries

Margaret Rooney

Margaret from Dublin went to South Africa in April 2005 to work in Bakhita Village a residential home for orphaned and vulnerable young girls.

Margaret as coordinator of the residentialhome is involved in administration,

shopping and various other tasks on aday to day basis while the girls are at school.  After school Margaret takes ‘a keen interest in their school work and this has encouraged them to try a little hardernow that they

know someone is watching!’  Margaret also says ‘ like all children they respond positively to attention and kindness and this is where the greatest reward is.   The difference in the child might besmall but it makes it all worthwhile.’

At October 2006:

"It is Spring here now and the weather looked like it was getting warmer but changed its mind and we have had a cool week. The bird life has really come alive and yellows, blues, greens and reds are a common sight among the trees and bushes. There is a great variety of colours in South African birds.

Noise and colour are also part of life in Bakhita, home to 20 vulnerable girls. We had some exciting news in September when we learned we had won a community award. We won this award ahead of many other projects in Limpopo, Mphumalanga and Swaziland so it was a great thrill for us. The prize money was R10,000 which we have spent doing up the bathroom. We also have plans to build a nice playground.

We planted our vegetable garden last week and this will provide food for the girls families when they go home on school holidays. The girls really enjoy doing the garden and I have learned a little myself.

Four of the girls are due to be admitted into St. Brendans boarding school in January and we already have four new entrants lined up. Orphans and vulnerable children are a growing problem in South Africa as the AIDS pandemic takes its toll.
We could fill Bakhita many times over. The girls in Bakhita are fortunate. They get food, shelter and an education.

The days are busy and varied. Its hard to describe a typical day because each one brings something different. The one thing I try to keep consistent is to be here everyday when they get home from school. This has helped to build up a trust and friendship between us. However, as you can imagine looking after 20 young girls does bring its challenges as well as its rewards. I think I have been fortunate in that the rewards have outweighed the challenges."

South Africa - Country Profile

South Africa - Sarah O'Carroll

South Africa - Elaine O'Brien