Visitors from Kirabati 

Visitors from the Republic of Kiribati

A group of Principals and Staff have travelled from the Republic of Kiribati for an Educational Exposure Visit this month. The Protestant Church runs Christian boarding schools but, like many other countries, struggles with the ability to supply resources including trained teachers. They are keen to develop Educational Administration including inservice programs for the many untrained teachers. They are also exploring commercial developments that may help pay for the Schools and relieve the burdens of the people.

Bethany Home volunteers, back row L to R Jess, Becka, Emilie, Heidi, Lies, Chris: front row, L to R, Peter, Chun Hai (from Bethany Home), Wendy. 

Bethany Home Volunteers

Bethany Home volunteers met together in Adelaide recently for a catch up. Jess is preparing to leave in mid-May to begin a placement at Bethany Home for six months. Jess has completed 2 years of her Bachelor of Nursing, and will be able to contribute well to the work at Bethany Home, a centre for children and young adults with physical and intellectual disabilities. Becka, who served for one year in 2003-4, has recently been a co-leader with a group of senior high school students from UCA schools in Western Australia on a short term trip. Emilie, Heidi, Liesl and Chris are SA Lutherans who have recently returned from their placements. Peter and Wendy served for a year, and returned to Australia in 2005. They remain keenly connected with the work at Bethany Home. They are hosting Chun Hai, a 16 year old with Downs Syndrome from Bethany Home, for 3 months in Australia, to give him the experience of living in another culture. This is the first time that such a reciprocal trip has been organised. To find out more about the work at Bethany Home, check out the website, www.bethanyhome.org.my, and to find out about serving in a placement, contact Sandy, sandy@sa.uca.org.au, Ph 08 8236 4240.