Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, Face-Faw have been able to help a little with the charitable work of the Monastery of Christ the Word , founded by Ampleforth in 1996. The Prior of the monastery, Fr Robert Igo, wrote in March 2007 to Face-Faw to describe their charitable works. In particular he wrote of the educational support the Monastery of Christ the Word gives to students: “We are helping ninety young people with their education, from primary School to University”. In addition, Fr Robert wrote of other needs. In the area of agriculture, money is “spent on seed and fertilizer” This year the community have assisted “over 100 families with 50kg of maize seed and 150 bags of fertilizer”. In addition, after asking for a business plan and making investigations they also help with community loans. Assistance with hunger relief is given in the form of monthly distribution to ten families of the parish together with helping fifty to sixty callers. The community also provide antiretroviral drugs for eight people and help with orphaned families - “sometimes the eldest child is running the running the household and we help with rent and rates for some of these, as well as school fees”. The monastery organise retreats for “those living with HIV and also for those who Care for them”. In his letter to Face-Faw, Fr Robert recalled that their “primary task is to root monastic life and tradition in the soil of Zimbabwe – our fidelity to monastic life is our first and most abiding gift to the needy of Zimbabwe”.
Friendship and Aid to Central and Eastern Europe - Friendship and Aid for the World (Face-Faw) represents Ampleforth’s concern for the needs of the world.
Face-Faw can receive donations to help with its aid work on www.justgiving.com/ampleforthabbey/donate