Published: Friday, 19th February, 2010 5:45pm

Banagher's Sr Ryder continues Haiti work

Sr Helen Ryder from Banagher is still helping out the poorest of the poor in Haiti, and trying to cope with the larger number of people looking for help from the nuns since the devastating earthquake almost five weeks ago.

She has worked in Haiti for many years, but now, following advice given to all the charity workers who are in Haiti, she is leaving the country for a few weeks to give herself a mental break from the devastation and trauma caused by the earthquake.

Sr Maria Hawkes, a colleague of Sr Helen's, returned home to Athlone last week to avail of some rest and recuperation, and spoke to the Offaly Independent about the work Sr Helen and the rest of the La Sainte Union community are continuing to do, after the earthquake.

Sr Helen teaches in a parish secondary school in the capital Port an Prince. She also volunteers in a young offenders prison, where young and teenage boys from the ages of eight to 19, are jailed. Some are there for such crimes as stealing a mango to eat.

She teaches classes there and some boys even go on to do exams, to help them find a better life when they get released.

She also gives them little treats at Christmas and Easter such as new clothes.

A record will be kept of all the money received and spent by the Bower nuns.

When Sr Maria returned home to Athlone for two weeks, she was amazed and delighted with the number of donations that were made locally to her.

The money will be spent on food, medicines, clothing and educational supplies by the Sisters of La Sainte Union who work in Port au Prince.