July Open House at Edmund Rice House

Following the success of our May Brothers Event, we were delighted to host another Open House at Edmund Rice House in July. We extended the invitation to communities across Ireland and we were delighted that Brothers from as far as Callan and Waterford attended. Over 20 Brothers came to hear a presentation and share a chat with the ERD team over tea and coffee.

Fiona gave an overview of how ERD operates and how we work in partnership with the Edmund Rice development projects abroad. Securing funding for the projects and building capacity of project personnel remain two of ERD’s main strategic priorities. We then invited Br. Eddie McArdle and Br. Francis Hall to talk about their experience as missionaries.

Br. Eddie McArdle spoke at our May Open House, and we were delighted he was willing to present again at our July event before heading back to Bolivia after several weeks in Ireland. Br. Francis Hall then presented on the Western Cluster project in Zambia where he has been based for the last three years. The Western Cluster is an integrated project focusing on livelihoods, maternal and child health, WaSH (water, sanitation, hygiene) and human rights. The approach is led by the local communities. Brothers have been active in Luampa, Limulunga and Senanga since the project’s inception in 2016. Their presence and commitment in the area have hugely contributed to the success of the project.

We thank everyone who attended the Open House. We hope to organise more gatherings for Brothers next year.