World Day of Social Justice is a United Nations-declared day recognising the need to promote social justice throughout the world. To mark the day, we spoke to Sr Kayula Lesa about her work in areas including anti-trafficking and the safeguarding of children in Zambia. From the Chinsali district of Zambia, Sr Kayula professed her vows in 1994 and has worked with the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) and the Meheba Refugee Settlement in Solwezi, where she was an education co-ordinator. She studied English at the University of Zambia in Lusaka, and received a masters degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

On Feb. 8^th the Religious Sisters of Charity are joining sisters worldwide in a prayer marathon for International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking. This day is St. Josephine Bakhita’s Feastday, the patron saint of those who have been trafficked. Our sisters will not only pray, but will also taken to the air waves on radio and television in Zambia and Nigeria to raise awareness.  Organized by Talitha Kum, the marathon begins in Oceania and moves across the globe ending in North America. To follow this prayer tune in here.  Along with the prayer wave, there will be photos and videos of sisters supporting survivors, and working to end trafficking through awareness, prevention, survivor support, partnerships and protection. 

 Our Sisters work to serve the poor across the globe and especially in the area of education. Recently, we spoke with Sr Micheline and Sr Angela about the education ministry in Bomadi, Nigeria. A small town in Nigeria’s Delta State, Bomadi is located on the Forcados River. The Nigerian Regional leader Sr Micheline O’Donnell has been based in Nigeria for 35 years while Sr Angela is head teacher at Our Lady of the Waters Nursery/Primary School, Bomadi.

The Venerable Mary Aikenhead was born on 19^th January 1787 in Co. Cork, 235 years ago. Born into comfort and privilege, she chose to dedicate her life’s work to the service of others and founded the Religious Sisters of Charity in 1815. Over the past 200 years, congregations in Ireland (1815), Australia (1838), England (1840), Scotland (1948), Zambia (1948), the United States (1953), Nigeria (1961) and Malawi (2011) have been founded in her name and follow her example in caring for the poor.

   Saturday, 18^th December marked International Migrants Day. Approximately 281 million people or almost four per cent of the global population were designated international migrants in 2020. The Religious Sisters of Charity founded the Haven Adult Education Centre just over a decade ago to help adults with second chance education opportunities and to help migrants with English Courses. We spoke to Sr Rita Wynne about how the centre contributes to the local and wider community.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated every year on December 3^rd. In recognition of this day, we take a look at the great work being done in the Compassion Centre for Physically Challenged Children in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. A ministry of the Religious Sisters of Charity, the centre aims to educate and rehabilitate each child according to his or her needs.

Towards Peace is a service offering spiritual support for anybody who has been abused, physically emotionally, sexually, spiritually, in a religious/church environment. 
 
Towards Peace was established in October 2014 by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Association of Leaders of Missionary & Religious Leaders of Ireland. 

This Sunday (October 17^th) is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Our Sisters work in service of the poor across the globe and we spoke to Sr Mairéad Ní Chuirc about her work in Malawi. Sr Mairéad is based in Konzalendo, about a two-hour drive from the city of Blantyre, in an area full of steep hills and valleys. She arrived in May 2021. There are high levels of poverty in Konzalendo, and the local community rely on the corn and crops that they grow, but unfortunately their farms can be detrimentally affected by soil erosion.

The long awaited new community of the Religious Sisters of Charity came into being on the 22nd July, 2021. Originally the building was scheduled for completion in November 2020 but due to Covid 19 and related lockdowns, the completion date was pushed back further and further.

Greeting from California, where we have experienced many changes in the Region since Covid restrictions took place. The most difficult thing was the isolation from each other, especially those who were in nursing homes. Once the lockdown was lifted and we began to receive the vaccine, we were able to start visiting our sisters and many were able to visit family in Ireland.