Saint Malachy’s Primary School Lenten appeal

This Lent, the pupils of Saint Malachy’s Primary School are leading a heartfelt campaign to support Children in Crossfire, a charity working with children and families living in extreme hardship in Ethiopia.

During their recent presentation, the School Council shared powerful stories about life in Nefas Silk, an area of Addis Ababa where many families live beside the vast Koshe rubbish dump. Conditions there are incredibly difficult – so much so that in 2017 a section of the dump collapsed, tragically claiming 117 lives. Even today, children at Saint Basil’s Primary School, which sits next to the site, often faint from the fumes or miss school because they must search the dump for food.

The pupils also spoke about mothers like Gallani and Zule, who are doing everything they can to care for their children despite overwhelming poverty. Children in Crossfire is working directly with families like theirs, helping them access education, healthcare, food, housing, and pathways to employment. Their founder, Richard Moore, reminds us:
“I may have lost my sight, but I did not lose my vision.”

Saint Malachy’s pupils want to share in that vision by reaching out to children whose daily lives are marked by hardship rather than opportunity. As one pupil said:
“Helping one person may not change the whole world, but it could change the world for one person.”

You can learn more about the work of Children in Crossfire by watching the short video shared by the pupils: