Giving hope through education
St.Michael's Primary School Newsletter, 2004
(This document is very large and will take awhile to download.)

Photographs, set 1 of South Africa, by Margaret Sottile.

Photographs, set 2 of South Africa, by Margaret Sottile.

Margaret reports that "... in 2004 we collected $1600 to send to St. Michael's Junior Primary School," and is already collecting funds for the January 2006 donation.

For more background, please read the following article which appeared in the October 2004 issue of The Church in Hiawathaland. As we look beyond our Diocese for ways to share our blessings with those less fortunate we remember the people of South Africa, who are recovering from generations of oppression through the policies of Apartheid. This country is an example of hope overcoming oppression and forgiveness overcoming hatred. Many people endure great hardships while remaining hopeful. The request in this article addresses one of their greatest needs; the opportunity for education. We will have an updated report soon as to how much money has been raised. But don't despair that you have missed the deadline! Donations are always needed and gratefully accepted.
St. Michael’s School Grows with Help from Northern Michigan ~Margaret Sottile

Once again I am writing to you on behalf of the Peace and Justice/Children’s Advocacy Committee, to ask that you provide a scholarship of $70 to the Northern Michigan Scholarship Fund at St. Michael’s Primary School in Khayelitsha, South Africa. These monies will allow the children of parents who do not have the necessary financial resources to attend school. Last year our diocese raised $1,534, which included a special donation of $500, from both congregations and individuals. To us, $70 to send a child to school for a year seems an amazingly small amount of money, but it is a huge investment in the child and ultimately in South Africa. I am touched by your generosity towards this vital project and hope that your generosity will continue this year. The parents of children attending St. Michael’s are often unemployed intermittently and so some of the money will be used to keep those children in school. All parents pay in part for their children’s education, even in public schools. If you cannot pay your child does not go to school. It is that simple!

Just to refresh your memory, in November 2001 I visited Khayelitsha. St Michael’s Anglican Church has a vibrant and diverse community outreach ministry. Some of their programs are similar to those of the Keweenaw Family Resource Center, an outreach ministry of Trinity Church in Houghton. Rachel Mash, Rector of St. Michael’s, told me of her dream to open a primary school. In January 2003 her dream was realized when Grade R (reception) opened with 22 students and Grade I with 25 students.

The Spring newsletter from St. Michael’s notes that this year they added Grade 2, and hope to add another grade each year. They are raising money to build a new facility, as they are now holding classes in a large home, which is straining to contain all the students.

I will be sending the money in November as their school year starts in January. Please send checks to:
Margaret Sottile
21706 Woodland Rd
Houghton MI 49931
906-482-4484
Please make checks payable to: St. Michael’s Church, Khayelitsha.

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