What has been achieved?

Between 2001 and the formation of the Shyira Trust, St Luke's church in Formby was responsible for all aspects of the link between Formby and Shyira. The Shyira Trust has now taken over responsibility for financial aspects of the link.

Below we list the achievements of St. Luke's, and people associated with the church.

• Rebuilt Shyira maternity hospital - The picture to the right was taken on 2nd April 2004 when the Prime Minister of Rwanda opened the hospital
  • Formby Rotary Club have equipped the hospital
  • Edge Hill University have supported Safe Motherhood and training for a midwife.
• A new roof, doors and windows have been provided for the primary school building
• The parish priest, Rev. Emmanuel, is supported by provision of a stipend
• Part of the cost of transport for Emmanuel has been provided
• 68 children have been sponsored in Shyira secondary school
• The technical school has had tools provided, and has been introduced to pole-lathe technology
• Handicrafts, including banana-leaf cards, have been sold
• There has been help in teaching students
• An HIV group has been supported by the provision of a chicken farming cooperative - some group members are shown in the lower picture
• Poverty relief has been provided through:
  • "Alternative gifts"
  • Purchase of livestock
  • Funding for groups working in cooperatives
  • Repair of homes for child-headed families

All this at a cost in excess of £62,879 donated by St. Luke’s members and their friends.

There is another aspect of the link to Rwanda, and it is difficult to estimate its value or effect.
It is the ever growing friendship between the people of St. Luke’s and St . Mark’s.

• 22 different people from St. Luke’s congregation have visit St. Mark’s, some several times. We have been visited by 3 people from St. Mark’s, plus the Bishop of Shyira and Archbishop of Rwanda.
• Drs Caleb and Louise King, American Missionary Doctors working in Shyira, have been here.
• Members of the Rotary Club of Formby have been to Shyira.
• There are exchanges of letters between individual members of the two parishes.