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In October 2011, the Youth Fellowship of Lichfield Cathedral will be undertaking a partnership visit to Matlosane, Lichfield’s partner diocese in South Africa.

 

Matlosane Diocese is centred on the black township of Ikageng, whose church became the first Cathedral founded in a South African township. Matlosane covers over half of the north-west province of South Africa, an area principally supported by subsistence farming and gold mining – the latter being very much in decline. This is an immensely poor area, with unemployment standing at around 50%. The diocese itself is considerably in debt and the support provided by Lichfield has helped financially with some building and educational projects, and supports an ordinand (trainee for the priesthood).

 

The Youth Fellowship visit will take a group of 16-year-old students from Lichfield - with their leaders, Pete, Rosanne and Helen - to visit, engage with and learn more about this under-priviliged but vibrant community, and we will also be undertaking some manual work and practical support whilst there, such as helping in the large allotments that can help feed several families, and working with some youngsters in local schools. As the first visit to our partner diocese undertaken by young people from Lichfield, this will also be an unprecedented chance to develop new links with the young people of Matlosane, and to share understanding of our different cultures. We are also hoping that a return visit by some of the Matlosane community to Lichfield will develop from this trip.

 

Do support us in our fundraising to enable this trip to happen: an opportunity to help and engage with one of the poorest communities in the world, whilst also changing our own young people’s lives in the process.

 

We have various fundraising initatives underway; and as part of the fundraising Helen is looking for sponsorship for her 100-mile cycle ride, along the Northumbrian coast from Newcastle to Berwick, on 22-27 July this summer.

 

Please sponsor Helen, or simply give to the cause! Any amount is welcome, and will help us start to enhance cultural understanding between the twin communities of Lichfield and Matlosane, and even begin to change the lives of some of our young people!

 

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