Meet Edmund Rice England
Edmund Rice England is a dynamic network of schools, youth ministries and outreach activities inspired by the founding vision of Blessed Edmund Rice. Roisin Maguire and Ann Nichols work tirelessly to instill the charism of Edmund Rice into the 10 English schools through advocacy, outreach and collaboration. ERD has always connected with ER England, but our partnership has strengthened over the last year with several collaborations, including the joint-visit to West Africa and a Schools Advent Campaign featuring projects we support. Roisin and Ann share reflections on the West Africa visit:
‘Returning to Sierra Leone after eight years was a remarkable experience, filled with warmth and reconnections with people who feel like family; it was as though I had never left. Visiting the Senan Kerrigan Vocational Skills Centre in Bo, where I previously contributed to teacher training programmes, was a joy. Witnessing the transformative work now taking place, hearing the beneficiaries’ stories and feeling the positivity and energy surrounding the centre was truly inspiring. The centre, aptly named in honour of a Brother who dedicated his life to Sierra Leone, embodies a legacy of service. He would be proud of the meaningful impact being made there. Visiting Blama was equally uplifting, especially seeing the ongoing work to empower young girls. Traveling with ERD was a privilege, allowing me to witness firsthand the profound impact of donor contributions on the lives of many girls and their families.’ -Roisin Maguire, Director
‘Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Global Inequalities covers a wide range of inequity based on issues such as income, race, religion, sex, age, disability, ethnicity etc. In both Sierra Leone and Liberia, the extremes of inequality are evident. Through the projects in Bo and Blama, girls and young women, who by their very gender are their society’s most vulnerable, women are able to gain agency over their lives. The wonderful beneficiaries at the Kerrigan Skills Centre are living proof that care and investment in them means a life freed from exploitation and insecurity. In Blama, girls in this rural community have many obstacles hindering their chance of success through education. The support structure given to them in the Girls Empowerment project is having a positive impact on them and the community. To meet the girls and their families was an enormous privilege and understanding the importance of carefully managed development through Naidi and Br. Abu was enlightening and encouraging. Our advocacy campaigns in the coming weeks are based on the projects, so we know our schools and their communities will get on board with supporting this vital work in West Africa.’ - Ann Nichols, Network Facilitator
It has been a pleasure working with Roisin and Ann this year, and we look forward to more collaborations in 2025!
