Summer 2020

Fr. Frank has continued his tireless work to help impoverished teens in his region, even in the face of COVID-19-related obstacles. Malawi has experienced several lockdowns because of the virus. As restrictions lifted, Fr. Frank organized workshops at different parishes throughout his diocese. These workshops have given young people opportunities they wouldn’t have had otherwise, like:

• The chance to meet a lawyer and hear about his career. Some of the students got to try on his wig and barrister’s robes, and now they hope to become lawyers when they grow up!
• A workshop on hard work, ambition, and resilience
• The opportunity to learn how to start a small business; this was especially helpful for young people who won’t be able to go to college
• Career workshops in Nursing, Teaching, Carpentry, and Medicine

The teens have also had opportunities in faith formation. They’ve heard from priests and religious, and had opportunities to pray together and learn how to live their faith in their daily lives.

Fr. Frank tells us, “The enthusiasm of the youth was shown by their participation. We had 100% turn up. Their participation was great. They had questions and stories to tell. ‘I have had an ambition to become a nurse but I felt very limited in many ways. Now I feel encouraged,’ said one girl who despite her age was still in secondary school.”