ROME, SEPT. 26, 2002 (Zenit.org).- The Oct. 6 canonization of Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei, will help to stimulate educational projects in Africa.
The organizing committee for the canonization has created a fund called Harambee 2002 Project, which will enable every pilgrim attending the canonization to donate a minimum of 5 euro (just under $5) to this initiative.
The funds collected will be allocated in a public competition, which will be open to all entities that promote educational activities in sub-Saharan Africa.
The organizing committee explained that priority will be given in the selection of projects to those that favor women and children of the most vulnerable social echelons, residing in rural or suburban areas.
Participants in the competition must be nonprofit organizations with offices in the beneficiary country and experience in the field of education. Requisites for the competition are published on Internet (www.escriva-canonization.org).
A commission of experts will study all projects submitted and allocate funds, which are limited to 40,000 euro per project.
Mama Ngina Kenyatta, widow of Jomo Kenyatta, first president of Kenya, is president of the Harambee 2002 Honorary Committee.
The canonization’s organizing committee has already selected a pilot project promoted by Kimlea Center in Kenya, which offers professional formation and which came into being thanks to the efforts of Monsignor Escrivá. The center has been educating African women for several decades.
The fund will specifically support the “Outreach Program,” a series of professional formation courses for women who work in tea plantations in Kenya’s Kiambu district.
