New Centre

Sunday saw the inauguration of a new centre for handicapped women and girls from the Batimarais area (village in the South of the island). 

This project was 9 years in the making from its conception as an idea to construction and opening. The idea came from the team of missionary sisters of the Catholic religious order Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (SMMI) from India. With the help of the diocese of Port Louis they had set-up their house in Batimarais. Their work consisted mainly of aiding the poor in this area through social initiatives in support of women’s empowerment. Through their contacts with low-income families they saw the urgent need for support of the physically disabled. Their findings were reported to the Diocese hierarchy and the project for a centre for the physically disabled started. A project board was created and sponsors sought. Sponsors not only contributed financially but also in volunteer work and in one case donated land for the construction of the centre. Nevertheless, nothing of this proportion is easy especially obtaining permits from administration for construction works. Hence the 9 years before fruition of the project. It demanded prayer, patience and perseverance and sometimes it came near to abandonment. However, today the centre has been opened and the inauguration on 15 July completed by His Eminence Cardinal Maurice Piat with officials and sponsors in attendance.