Seeing the impact of Lent donations in Zimbabwe

In November 2016, a Bishops Delegation travelled to Zimbabwe to see Trócaire’s work firsthand. 

Four bishops, accompanied by Trócaire staff, visited Trócaire projects and saw the impact of Irish public’s generous Lenten donations.

Photo Caption L to R: Bishop Noel Treanor of Down & Connor Diocese, Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan of Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Diocese, Bishop Brendán Leahy of Limerick Diocese and Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin Diocese, Éamonn Meehan, Trócaire Executive Director, in Zimbabwe, November 2016.

The group visited projects ranging from water schemes which provide clean water sources for families to drink and to grow food, to projects supporting people living with HIV, to legal support for families fighting injustices.

Photo caption: Vegetable garden irrigated by a new Trócaire funded water scheme.

“We saw firsthand the work of Trocaire in practice. With three other bishops and some Trocaire staff I travelled to Zimbabwe for a week where I saw how Trocaire does not give handouts but a hand up. We visited two water schemes, which are part-funded by Trocaire but run by local people who take responsibility for the projects. From these water schemes hundreds of locals benefit by having clean water sources for drinking, washing and farming. I witnessed how Trocaire helps people living with HIV to have a good diet and educates them in the importance of taking their medicine and living a healthy lifestyle. I saw how Trocaire funds local legal firms to fight the causes of the poor to retain ownership of their own lands or fight an unjust conviction or police detention.” – Most Reverend Alphonsus Cullinan, DD, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore

Watch this video recorded at the start of Lent 2017 by the Most Reverend Noel Treanor, Bishop of Down & Connor Diocese, as he reflects on the work he saw on his visit with Trócaire to Zimbabwe.