From donating a €3 bar of soap to a €1,300 water storage tank, anyone can restore some dignity to the people who cross paths with the Jesus in Thy Neighbour missionary movement.

Arange Gebre, a mother of five, lived in extremely poor conditions and had to work the fields despite having lost her legs. She now participates in an income-generated programme.Arange Gebre, a mother of five, lived in extremely poor conditions and had to work the fields despite having lost her legs. She now participates in an income-generated programme.

Founded by Fr George Grima 30 years ago, the main aim of the movement is to help out vulnerable children living on the streets of Brazil, Ethiopia and Kenya.

However, the movement also supports families, including lepers, who are treated as outcasts and are forced out of their villages and into cemeteries.

Houses for people with leprosy, which cost benefactors €500, consist mainly of one room, but go a long way to “making them feel human again”.

 “Over the past three decades, we have tried to restore people’s dignity by restoring their houses and their water supply while also providing their access to education and health services,” Fr Grima told this newspaper.

The movement adopts a long-term, sustainable approach and has even started income-generated programmes.

Jesus in Thy Neighbour cares for some 23,000 children and funds 230 Ethiopian and Kenyan schools

One such beneficiary is mother-of-five Arange Gebre, who has no legs. She used to work the fields until the movement asked her to start making rosary beads from seeds, which she is able to sell. “We provided her with a sum of money with which she could buy her material and which she pays back in small instalments while making a profit,” Fr Grima explained.

The movement also supports children with a disability, who are often rejected by their families.

Children harvesting coffee beans.Children harvesting coffee beans.

Children with physical disabilities who can be operated on are taken to the Alert medical facility in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The movement pays for transportation and medicine, and the operation is done for free.

If the children are still not welcomed by their families, the movement takes them in at one of its children’s homes.

Children born with albinism are also kicked out by their families. Dun Grima explained that albino children often flee Tanzania, where they can be killed, cross Kenya and travel to Jesus in Thy Neighbour’s homes in Ethiopia.

Jesus in Thy Neighbour currently cares for some 23,000 children in all, and its projects are ongoing. It funds 230 schools in Ethiopia and Kenya, where children are granted access to education, food and health facilities.

Apart from living in the cemetery in Ambo, Alemitu Delasa worked as a gravedigger there. He went blind because of a condition he contracted while opening a grave and has now been provided with a house and a sheep, which cost donors €23.29.Apart from living in the cemetery in Ambo, Alemitu Delasa worked as a gravedigger there. He went blind because of a condition he contracted while opening a grave and has now been provided with a house and a sheep, which cost donors €23.29.

The projects are ongoing, and among others, the movement is building the first secondary school for children with physical disabilities in Nyando, Kenya.

Although its main focus is children, the movement does not turn away vulnerable adults, especially those with leprosy and those suffering from elephantiasis. Given just €3, a person suffering from the latter can buy water and a soap to alleviate their pain.

Visit www.gesufilproxxmu.com or call on 2155 6453 for more information about how to help out the organisation.

Donations can also be made by SMS on 5061 7365 for €2.33, 5061 8083 for €4.66 and 5061 8933 for a donation of €6.99.

Children spend hours looking for coffee beans for their families to sell. Jesus in Thy Neighbour provides them with education and food, however some do not turn up at school, as their families depend on the profits from the coffee beans.Children spend hours looking for coffee beans for their families to sell. Jesus in Thy Neighbour provides them with education and food, however some do not turn up at school, as their families depend on the profits from the coffee beans.

“We have tried to restore people’s dignity by restoring their houses.”“We have tried to restore people’s dignity by restoring their houses.”

Water is a priority for the movement, which funds projects to store rainwater.Water is a priority for the movement, which funds projects to store rainwater.

The movement is hoping it can install water storage tanks outside each one of its schools in Ethiopia.The movement is hoping it can install water storage tanks outside each one of its schools in Ethiopia.

Peter Okoth used to sell coffee illegally. He was jailed and given a beating that broke his spine. Released 20 years later, no one wanted to host him, and his wheelchair became his mobile home. He was eventually given a house by the movement.Peter Okoth used to sell coffee illegally. He was jailed and given a beating that broke his spine. Released 20 years later, no one wanted to host him, and his wheelchair became his mobile home. He was eventually given a house by the movement.

People living on the streets in Addis Ababa.People living on the streets in Addis Ababa.

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