Pictured above: The children gathered after their first lesson to eat their first meal provided by the Centre

A new children’s day care centre in Boba Geacha VillageEthiopiahas been inaugurated under the auspices of Moviment Missjunarju Gesu fil-Proxxmu and funded by GasanMamo Insurance.  The centre was blessed and inaugurated by Bishop Markus of the Vicariate of Jimma in the presence of Dun Gorg Grima.

As part of its CSR programme, the leading insurance company has committed funds over two years for the construction of the premises.  The project addresses the harsh realities of life in such small and isolated rural communities where the thirst for learning is great but survival takes precedence.

By offering the services of day care facilities the community is given the opportunity to allow their children to learn basic literacy, numeracy and religious teaching that will help them to better their chances in life when they grow up.  It also assures parents that the children are cared for, allowing them to seek work without having child care concerns. The children are assured a hot meal each day they attend – an added incentive for parents to be less inclined to send them to work in the fields.

“The ‘school’ was previously housed in a grass hut with no doors, windows, or indeed even floors,” said Dun Gorg Grima of Moviment Missjunarju Gesu fil-Proxxmu.  “The place was open to the elements and to stray animals.  With the generous help of GasanMamo, for which we are truly grateful, we now have a simple but new, clean and safe construction that seems like a different world to these youngsters.”

Albert Mamo, Managing Director of GasanMamo expressed his excitement at seeing the company’s contribution translate into tangible results.  “We are impressed with the passion, energy and work of Dun Gorg Grima that has culminated in the inauguration of this new centre.  We are happy to know that the children in this village have a day refuge, a daily plate of nutritious food and an education to look forward to – things our children take for granted.” The next step is to furnish the premises during the course of this year to thus have a completed project.

The not-for-profit missionary movement founded in Gozo aims to give a better life to children under the age of 12, living on the streets of Brazil and Africa.  The projects provide children with daily food and education, medicine where needed, and care for children with AIDS and disability while spreading the belief that disability is not inability.  The movement also has homes for leper families and works on developing bore-hole and spring water facilities.  Moviment Gesu fil-Proxxmu runs 85 homes in Brazil, 87 homes in Ethiopia and 24 homes in Kenya.