Fundraising For The Chicken and Egg Program Begins

Ms Jo Casamento, Communications and Fundraising Coordinator for Mercy Works, spoke to the school assembly about the Chicken and Egg Program

Fundraising for the Mercy Works Chicken and Egg program has begun with Dobson and Clare Houses holding the first fundraiser on Tuesday this week.

A Krispy Kreme donut stall was held at lunchtime in Mercy Square with students able to buy a donut for $3.

Fundraising for Mercy Works begun on Tuesday with a Krispy Kreme donut stall.

Additional fundraising activities will be held throughout the term, including all the activities held on Mercy Day which will go towards the Chicken and Egg Program.

At the school assembly on Wednesday Ms Jo Casamento, Communications and Fundraising Coordinator for Mercy Works, spoke to the students and staff about what the Chicken and Egg Program involves and how it has been expanded this year thanks to the generous donations from schools like Catherine McAuley.

“The Chicken and Egg Program helps reduce the risk of severe malnutrition in children under five years old”, said Ms Casamento.

“The eggs are a wonderful source of protein for malnourished children, who are often born with disabilities, because their mothers have not had enough nutrition”.

Ms Casamento spoke about the expansion of the program which will now include the building of two water tanks to improve sanitation and the establishment of mobile health clinics for 18 remote villages.

“Timor Leste remains one of the poorest nations in the world. The area we work in is incredibly remote. It is very mountainous and sparsely populated. Getting access to the mothers and children within these remote areas is incredibly hard”.

Ms Casamento thanked the school in advance for all the fundraising initiatives which are planned this term. “We can’t thank you enough at Mercy Works”, she said. “We are so grateful because we rely solely on donations as we have no government funding. Together we can change lives”.

The Clare and Dobson House Leaders with Ms Casamento from Mercy Works and School Principal Ms Refalo.