Final Figure for the Fundraiser of the Leprosy Care Centre in Mutemwa, Zimbabwe.

Fundraiser Finale

We are delighted to report the final figure raised for the Leprosy Care Centre was £10,500!

This money has now been sent to CIOFS so that they can make the necessary preparations for Mutemwa to get their washing machine.

We are eternally grateful to all of you who have contributed to make this a reality and look forward to updating you all on their new equipment when it arrives!

Once again, many thanks to each and every one of you for your generous and kind donations.

Pax et Bonum

OFS National

A Particular group of people living with the effects of Leprosy need our help

While we were at the European OFS and Youfra Congress in Spain last week, we heard a story from our Minister General Tibor Kauser. He had visited Mutemwa in Zimbabwe where John Bradburne had spent the last years of his life, ministering to those living with the effects of Leprosy. Tibor had gone there because recently, Well4Africa, the CIOFS project, had dug a bore hole to provide them with a regular water supply. 

He was struck by the simple lives that the people were living there, often without limbs, hands, feet, eyes, all lost to the disease. Sometimes they cannot speak, but they can listen to the radio, sometimes they cannot walk but are able to move somehow to the garden to grow their own food. It is really not an easy life for them. There are carers there who are able to support them with meeting their basic needs when necessary. However, he was disturbed to see that the industrial washing machine that they had was broken beyond repair and as a result the people were doing all the necessary washing by hand, standing over the industrial sinks spending their whole days scrubbing bedding etc. 

He wanted to be able to say that the OFS would be able to find a way of buying them a new washing machine and it was clear that he felt strongly moved to be able to help them with this. He stood at the congress and asked whether there was any country that would be prepared to take on raising £10,000 to be able to pay for this washing machine. As OFSGB we have said that we would like to support this. John Bradburne was our brother and many of us have developed a close relationship with him in our prayer lives.

The people living at Mutemwa will be there for the rest of their lives. They are hidden from the view of the rest of the world, but they have a need for help in this matter and are part of our family just as John Bradburne was. 

Will you support this cause by sending an offering using the DONATE button below?

We will then send it on to CIOFS who will ensure that the money is sent to the community, possibly via the OFM friars who live on site, they will then purchase the machine. Our CIOFS International Councillor for English speaking Africa is herself living in Zimbabwe and she will also be able to help with this.

We need to receive all offerings by August 26th 2025 so that it can be passed on to Tibor by the end of August.

(Kathy Maskens, National Minister)

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