The local charity Moviment Missjunarju Ġesu fil-Proxxmu last year sent out €1.2 million to its missions all over the world, including drought-stricken Africa.

The movement received €1.4 million during the year, putting it in the black, after it had to spend €400,000 more than it received in the previous year.

“There is a great imbalance in the world. In the last few years 40 million children died of diseases which could be cured with simple medicines, and every day 30,000 children die of hunger or related illnesses. In developed countries, a dog will eat double what a poor person in a developing country would eat,” Fr George Grima, the movement’s founder, said.

The group’s primary focus is in Brazil, where it spent €645,802 on the 62 children’s homes it runs in the country.

“Children under 10 years spend a long time at school, where they are also fed. When the movement accepts these children, at the same time it would be allowing their parents to go out and work,” said Fr Grima. Meanwhile, in Ethiopia, the group spent €365,255. Here, together with the group reaching out, it is building a large clinic catering for more than 10,000 families. The clinic will be named Wayne’s Clinic in memory of Wayne Vella, the 25-year-old from Mġarr who died in a workplace accident last year. He had worked hard to collect funds for this clinic through the Kilimanjaro Challenge.

In Ethiopia, the movement opened a day centre for poor children in Awassa, two homes for lepers in Nekemte and Ambo, a grinding mill in Bajo, a borehole in Ambo, a nursery in Shera, a day centre for 70 children in Lawratum and an eye clinic in Pawe.

The group spent a further €241,246 in Kenya, where a new school was built at the Divine Mercy Home, along with the provision of electricity. Meanwhile, the movement has carried on with construction at its homes in Bondo, St Mary Magdalene and Homa Bay. It has also continued building dormitories in Nyabondo and Bungoma.

In addition, the group has sent €2,330 to the Fondo Clero Missjoni Gozo, the same amount to Peru and €500 to Pakistan. People wishing to aid the movement in its work, by sponsoring a child or donating money, can do so on HSBC account 0712 0424 2050 or Bank of Valletta account 1241 040 3078. For more information, visit www.maltamission.com or call Fr George on 2155 6453.