A JERSEY woman has been visiting orphanages in Nigeria while working for the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development.
Aid worker Susy Brouard (40) (pictured) visited communities supported by the aid agency Cafod and met Catholic church leaders in Jos in the north of the country in July.
She went to maternity, TB, and HIV clinics during her week-long stay and also helped to run a three-day workshop on Cafod’s Livesimply initiative, which encourages people in the UK and Jersey to live more simply, more sustainably and in solidarity with those who are poor.
Susy said: ‘In Nigeria I visited two health care clinics where people are being treated for malaria, typhoid, and worms. ‘They have difficulty keeping doctors because of the lack of money and equipment. As the sister in charge told me, the rural poor, especially those with HIV, are often forgotten.
‘In many places where I stayed there was neither running water nor electricity, which made me realise that there is so much here that we take for granted. Travelling to Nigeria gave me the opportunity to learn how I can live simply and sustainably. I hope others will be inspired to take up the Livesimply challenge.’
Susy’s parents, Robert and Sally Brouard, of St Brelade, are parishioners at St Bernadette’s Catholic Church and they have started car sharing and taking the bus in support of the Livesimply campaign.
Cafod works with communities in more than 50 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, striving to fight against poverty and injustice.
Article posted on 30th September, 2008 - 3.00pm
