Success Stories

As Project Leader Callum’s role was extremely varied. He had to put the team together, find sponsors to support the fundraising for the project, and communicate with the School Director and different authorities. He had a lot of responsibility when it came to the well-being of his group, making sure that they were fit to work both mentally and physically, for the project was both draining and exhausting. The average working day ran from 7am-3.30pm and the students taught English to different teachers and workers after school too! Callum’s group joined with other volunteers at the school – young people from Germany, Austria, Indonesia, Mexico, France etc. all worked together to help at the school and make a difference to the lives of the children that they were teaching! The mix of nationalities was a real bonus for the project. It allowed the volunteers to interact with people from different cultures, backgrounds and experiences.

All of Callum’s group had individual classes to teach throughout the day and they also made a video with the children which you can see at

Callum taught a range of subjects from English, Science and Maths to Music, Art & Craft and Sport. This allowed him to see the children in different settings and to see where their skills lay. Each of the children are incredibly talented in their own way – whether it comes to their Messi-esque footballing ability, brilliant drumming or their fantastic craft skills. It was a pleasure to witness these children
have fun and enjoy life at school. For many Cambodian children, the reality is that they are unable to attend school or have any form of education. Often, especially for the village children, their childhood consists of labour, helping in the family shop or even worse begging on the streets. This school works to give these children a positive start to life that has the potential to propel them from poverty into a life with good prospects.

Callum will never forget the smiles on the faces of the children that he taught. They were mesmerised by the volunteers, by their way of life, even the way that they spoke. For Callum, to be able to bring the children such enjoyment, even if it was only for two months, was a real pleasure. The volunteers were teaching these children invaluable life lessons – whether it be washing your hands before you eat, or teaching them English vocabulary that they can use in everyday life – Callum knows that they had an positive impact.

Finally, Callum would like to thank the Bursray Fund for as it made a major contribution towards funding the project. This award enabled Callum to help the lives of hundreds of children in Cambodia, and to leave a legacy at the school. And countless memories for Callum that will remain forever.

The biggest challenge Ruth found teaching her classes was that they were too used to a lecture style of teaching and so struggled to think for themselves. She tried to make her lessons as interactive as possible and question them to test their understanding – not just their knowledge.

Ruth lived in a house with her fellow volunteers, which had two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom. The housemates had to collect water from a tap outside, and the water was only turned on for an hour three times per day but they quickly got into a routine of fetching water.

The pupils had prep every evening which gave Ruth an opportunity to give extra help to classes or individuals that were struggling with particular topics. Ruth also got involved in many extra-curricular activities. Long distance running is one of her favourite hobbies so she volunteered to coach the schools athletics team, and also coached the Badminton team.

Ruth’s last few days in Zambia were very emotional, saying goodbye to her pupils and many friends. She reports that “the school threw a party to say farewell to me – including making me do a dance on my own!” Ruth feels her time in Zambia has been an incredible learning experience and she knows that she will never look at the world in quite the same way again. She hopes that her pupils learned to enjoy science, but she knows that she learnt a lot from Zambians – about making the most of what you have – and living a relaxed life.”

Finally, Ruth wanted to thank the Bursary Fund for their generous financial support without which the year would not have been possible.

Project Organiser: Project Trust

Whilst in Zimbabwe she lived with a local family, the Tuso family who opened their home in Biriiri to her and displayed such generosity of spirit.

Sadly, Elizabeth’s programme had to finish early because of security concerns in Zimbabwe. Even so Elizabeth reports that the friendships and connections she has made have educated her in so many more ways than just a simple cultural exchange, and they have offered her different perspectives on issues that she had never previously considered. She found it incredibly inspiring to see so many young people wanting to make a change and there is no doubt that her project has changed her life for ever.

Whilst in Zimbabwe Elizabeth was keen to meet with the local Catenian Circle and was grateful for their support and hospitality as well as the financial support from the Bursary Fund, which made it all possible.

Project Organiser: International Citizen Service (ICS)/Restless Development

Adam’s role on the ship was to be the ship’s chief cook and he and his team daily fed 400 crew and medical staff and countless patients. “I cook from the heart” says Adam, “and I can’t tell you how pleasing it is to be complimented and praised by the crew for my cooking, or to see the patients digging in to my food with a will.”

Adam strongly encourages all young people to do as he has done and “Follow your dreams by volunteering. It’s so worthwhile,” he says, “and has strengthened both my faith and my belief in humankind.” “And I couldn’t have done it without the Bursary Fund,” he says, “thank you all so very much

Project Organiser: Mercy Ships

Claire travelled to Minnesota where she took part in 3 month long training programme with 175 other volunteers. On completion of the training the volunteers were broken into teams of about 12 and then set off around the USA giving retreats at schools and parishes to young people between grades 6 and 12. Claire acted as the team leader for one of these teams and spent her 9 months ‘on the road’ in the mid-west visiting 16 states.

Claire found that her team of young volunteers were able to connect with and inspire the young people they met. “Young Catholics really don’t have much of a chance for the formation of their religion”, explains Claire, “and are much better able to discuss these matters with other young Catholics”. But most of all the project has taught Claire herself to trust God more, to give him her worries and to trust in his love. “Above all”, Claire says, “the year has taught me to make God my priority. He really
does have my best interests at heart!”

Having had a successful year, Claire has now returned to do it all again! This time as a senior organiser of the evangelisation teams that travel around the USA. Claire admits that she wouldn’t have been able to undertake this ministry without the support of the Bursary Fund, and she is so grateful that our support has enabled God to work to change her life.

Project Organiser: NET Ministries

Whilst there is no shortage of food, and the region sees lots of rain, it lacks the infrastructure and facilities to ensure safe drinking water. So Joe and his team addressed this by protecting a spring in the neighbouring village by digging back to the ‘eye’ of the spring and then using rocks and concrete to create a chamber behind a retaining wall from which the spring now issues.

Their second task was to promote hygiene awareness and to build a rain collecting tank at the village thus taking away the need for a half hour walk to collect water for pupils at the school and allowing more time to be spent on lessons. Joe and his team focused on key messages such as when and how to wash your hands as well as demonstrating water purification methods like boiling all drinking water or using Moringa seeds as a natural alternative to chemicals like chlorine.

Joe is so pleased that he went to Uganda, where he learnt a lot about the world and about himself. “Thanks to the Bursary Fund I feel that my trip has change my life for the better” said Joe.

Project Organiser: Little BIG Africa

Teaching at Sapuk Elementary School is a tough challenge but one that Hayden and his companion Alex have tackled head on with energy and enthusiasm and they are delighted by the promising improvement they have seen in their pupils in only a short time in Chuuk. People’s original reaction to finding out Hayden were heading to Chuuk, Micronesia was met with strange looks and the simple question of “where?” and the answer he now gives is “an oasis in the pacific where the rest of the world’s problems seem distant and irrelevant.” This has allowed him to immerse himself in a culture that is unique, interesting and vastly different to what we know.

When Hayden arrived the community made him feel very welcome and invited him into their homes and lives to share food and the local language. The first Sunday Mass Hayden attended was a living example of the community. Neither Hayden nor Alex could tell you any of the readings or songs in that Mass, but they both remember one thing: the homily focused on ‘special memories’ and as the sun silently set over the horizon of one of the outer islands of Chuuk Lagoon, they sat in the elegant outdoor chapel atop the hill surrounded by strangers with whom they would soon share a timeless bond – this was indeed one of those special memories.

The rest of the year ahead promises to be one of these prolonged special memories. Within the short time Hayden has been here he have grown ever more confident as a teacher and has made some relationships that will be sure to last a lifetime. Chuuk really is a place like no other and a small reflection or some photos cannot do it any justice. As Fr Dennis Baker SJ told us, “This is a part of the world that the rest of the world knows nothing about. It’s our special little secret, and I like to keep it that way.”

Hayden is incredibly grateful for the support, encouragement and funds provided by the Bursary Fund to support his project which have already gone some way to making a difference in Chuuk.

Project Organiser: The Cardoner Project

The impact was immediate as the children could spend more time in school instead of having to go and collect water.

Her second project was to install three energy saving stoves to replace the existing ones that had broken. These would save the school up to £350 per year. She also discovered that two staff had died in the past year from the smoke from the kitchen stoves which had caused throat cancer. The smoke was also getting into the food and was affecting the students. The new stoves produce 80% less smoke than the original stoves and with the ventilation that we added, it is our hope that fewer problems are caused in the future.

One evening in particular sticks in Aine’s mind. A Ugandan called David and Aine were cleaning the dishes after dinner when he said this to her:
“We do not have much and what we do have is broken and battered. It is a hard life when you do not know whether you will have money to feed your children. But I know that God is with me always and he has given me the strength to carry on. When you feel that you have nothing in the world, know that you will always have God. He has brought me you, Aine, ‘she who has compassion'”
That is what Aine’s name means in Runyankole, (a tribal language spoken in West Uganda). Aine reports: “I have never experienced anything like the level of poverty, deprivation or the struggles that David has. But I am inspired that through it all, he is as faithful to God as anyone I have ever seen. Going to church in the local village in Uganda is an experience I will never forget. It was a room of people full of love and joy and peace and I am so grateful to have experienced it.”

Aine wants to say a massive thank you to the Catenians for the financial support that we gave her which has allowed me to volunteer for this project. Aine will continue to volunteer for Education Partnerships Africa and hopes to return to Uganda in a couple of years to continue the work that she has started. For Aine it was an unforgettable and humbling experience and she encourages anyone who wishes to do this type of work.

Project Organiser: Education Partnerships Africa