“Why would people so far away care so much for us?” one person asked Fr Eamon Sheridan when he told people at the Rebirth Rehabilitation Centre in Myanmar’s Kachin State that readers of the Far East had donated enough money to finish the building of the dormitory for women.
Not only that, but we now had the resources to buy a new generator that will power the whole compound during the numerous power cuts and we can install a much-needed transformer. They were dumbfounded.
The faith and generosity of the Far East readers has been amazing. Over recent months we have cried together here in the centre as the situation seemed to deteriorate and the world seemed to have forgotten as attention moved to the next disaster. However, your generosity has lifted our spirits and restored our faith in the goodness that is in people.
Every evening we pray a decade of the rosary together and we always pray for our donors. Once a week we offer mass for the intentions of our donors. You are changing the lives of people you may never meet but who will always remember you in their prayers.
From the bottom of our hearts: Thank You.
Because of the political instability in 2021, it was difficult to get funds into the country. Banks were basically closed. We had to suspend the building of the women’s centre for lack of available funds. Thankfully we were able to overcome that and continue construction.
Then a third wave of Covid hit us and again we had to suspend the work. However, we were able to finish the building by December 2021. We blessed the new building on 5 January 2022.
On 10 January 2022 we began a new three-month programme. It is a very new concept for women to come to a Rehab Centre for recovery. There is an embarrassment that is difficult to overcome. This is the only centre in the country, as far I know, that has a residential capacity for women. Five women have come but we are hopeful that once the news spreads more women will join future programmes.
On the male side, we have 36 new clients and 18 guys who have come back for aftercare. We also have 16 volunteers who are also in recovery. So we have a challenge of feeding 75 people three meals a day.
Due to the instability many people are struggling financially so we have less income from the clients. However, we never refuse anyone because of a lack of finances. We find a way. The prayers and generosity of the Far East Magazine has kept the centre open in 2021. The situation here will not improve soon so please continue to keep us in your prayers.
Our next project is to build a vocational training centre. A lack of skills and a lack of employment means there is a high relapse rate. We want to try and do something about that and offer some training to help recovering addicts find work.
If you would like to support Fr Eamon Sheridan’s work in Myanmar, please send your donation to the Far East Office, Dalgan Park, Navan, Co Meath C15 AY2Y. Mark it for Fr Eamon Sheridan. Alternatively, you can donate online at www.columbans.ie/donate or call 00353 46 909 8275.