Christmas in July—transforming lives in Nepal

On Thursday 25 July, St Mark’s Lutheran Early Learning Centre is holding a Christmas in July celebration to collect educational materials for children in Nepal and help change their lives.

Fay Costi, St Mark’s Early Learning Centre Director said ‘We've organised a Christmas in July celebration for our kids and their families but we also wanted this to be more than just a celebration. We wanted to give back to the less fortunate, which is why we are collecting school materials for children in Nepal’.

Pastor Peter, from St Mark’s Lutheran Church said ‘In Nepal, families are so poor they have to borrow money from ‘landlords’ to survive. Interest rates are so high so families are never able to repay the loans.

‘As a result, people fall in the trap of working as labourers bonded to the landlord, until they find an alternative path Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) offers.

‘The ALWS mission is to reach out in love… for justice, seeking to bring people together in partnership, ensuring the voices of the poor are heard, and God’s gifts of grace are shared. ALWS creates life-changing programs that restore human dignity, alleviate poverty and build just and sustainable communities.’ Pastor Peter said.

Chanakala Poundryal, a Nepalese woman (pictured) experienced ALWS help first hand ‘Before the Lutheran help came here, we used to cultivate just cereal. We had no idea how to grow vegetables or raise livestock. We had nothing to sell.

‘Now we grow a variety of vegetables and fruit. We can easily take out a loan from the Savings Group and repay it. I plan to extend the vegetable farm and raise goats and livestock. I have also started a small shop at the front of my house—we are free now!’ Mrs Poundryal said.

‘This celebration is for children and families of the centre, however the whole community is welcome to make contributions of new books and writing materials and help change the lives of Nepalese children. Gifts can be dropped off at St Mark’s Lutheran ELC, Burcote St, Mt Gravatt or phone 3349 4576 for more information’ Ms Costi concluded.

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For media enquiries or to organise interviews or photo opportunities, please contact Fay Costi 0407 595 180