Sewing Hope Foundation at St. Monica’s Vocational School

Student Role

At St. Monica’s Vocational School, students will have the opportunity to assist around the compound in a variety of ways. Students can choose to work in the health care center, the compound’s restaurant, assist in teaching at the nursery, or assist in teaching the newly created Adult Literacy Program for women. Participants may assist in teaching either together or separately but teaching separately is encouraged to allow the students to feel more comfortable and open. The opportunities for work are extremely varied, and the Sisters prefer for the participants to discern what most needs to be done for the school, and then pursue more deeply. Even when a set schedule is in place, participants can expect to spend time doing small tasks that the Sisters need assistance with around the compound. When school is in session, classes conclude around 5 pm. Participants can join and assist the girls in extracurricular activities such as sports (volleyball, football/soccer), theatre/music, and prayer. A few days a week, and as often as desired, participants are encouraged to spend time and play with the nursery-aged and primary-school children who come to St. Monica’s in the afternoon at the Nursery and Kindergarten Center. St. Monica’s works on a rotational schedule for all programs so our students would be dependent on what responsibilities can be allocated in what time frames. St. Monica’s has expressed a particular need for participants to teach in the Adult Literacy Program and research and investigate the training of mothers in child care. Students may also have an opportunity to visit Sr. Rosemary’s second school in Atiak, Uganda and work with children as assistant caretakers. Students may also visit several other communities in which the Sisters of the Sacred Heart work. In the past, students have participated in prison ministry and went each week with other students from the vocational school to the women’s side of the Gulu prison to pray with the women and occasionally preach. Students have taught English to the nursery students and to the women in the Adult Literacy Program which included preparing lesson plans and homework and communicating with teachers and staff to ensure seamless operations and that times for classes were covered. Another student worked in the clinic assisting with testing for malaria or assisting in the women’s clinic. Additionally, students were asked to give a talk on prayer and served as friends to the students. There are many diverse opportunities to get involved depending on each student’s interests.