Wishing you a happy Christmas
Update from the Academy
This quarter we have 24 students in our training programmes which is keeping us busy. We will soon be looking into what ‘on the water’/ practical training we can provide over next Spring/Summer. Altogether it has been a productive year for the Academy with numbers and courses gradually increasing as COVID restrictions subside.
Introducing the Madagascar Reach Program
As this season is a time of blessing and giving, it causes us to reflect on how we can give to the poor communities of Madagascar.The project to convert for deployment the medical relief vessel m/v Island Reach to Madagascar should be completed by the beginning of 2023. At present she is in Conwy harbour North Wales and is programmed to sail on 6th April 2023 with a volunteer delivery crew.
It is an exciting time as we see this vision unfolding, however, we recognise that converting the vessel, fitting out the doctor’s consultation area, Dental surgery, Pharmacy and Ophthalmology area, then delivering the vessel is not the whole story (below is an artist’s impression of what m/v Island Reach will look like).
In Madagascar we are in the process of training up the local crew and securing a long-term supply of suitable crew. We also want to connect with doctors, nurses, dentist, dental hygienists, opticians, and eye surgeons who will volunteer to serve onboard for short periods. We also recognise that this vessel, will need to be financially supported through the years to serve the poor in Madagascar. Therefore, we are launching a new initiative, Madagascar Reach Program, to be a support group that will follow the journeys of this vessel in Madagascar and contribute financially on a regular basis. If you would like to be apart of this program, contact us and we will give you the password for the partners section of the website.
Madagascar is the fifth largest island in the world and ranked one of the least developed countries. Access to basic healthcare is a challenge for most people and many communities across the island are isolated and unable to receive vital medical attention. m/v Island Reach will grant better access to hard to reached villages in delivering medical and humanitarian relief and will also significantly multiply the number of people treated. We estimate that this vessel can serve up to 100,000 people a year and operate for at least 25 years on the island. In pursuit of this mission, consistent and faithful support from a global community is needed to effect long-term medical relief in Madagascar. As part of this faith project, we hope to establish a steady stream of support in a financial capacity to facilitate in developing sustainable structures of medical aid for the Malagasy people. Our YWAM Mercy Ministries team has already been providing basic medical care for 15 years on the island and established 50 ‘village clinic’, however, movement around the island, with almost no made-up roads, is very difficult. It was Welsh missionaries that first took the gospel of Christ to this island in the 19th century and translated the bible into Malagasy. They are commemorated with statures in the capital. How appropriate this ‘gift’ to the people of Madagascar will be sent from Wales. We are very grateful for the support already given and excitedly anticipate the next stage of this ministry. Thank you for choosing to partake in the mission of transforming lives.
We wish you the most blessed Christmas, Brian and the YWAM Maritime Academy Team.
To donate or sign up to the Madagascar Reach programme, please visit: https://www.ywamships.ch/donate
and donate to the work of YWAM Maritime Academy, please visit: https://www.ywamma.org/donate
To convert and deploy this medical relief vessel, YWAM Ships Switzerland, YWAM’s Maritime Academy and Mercy Ministries Madagascar are partnering, together with our global donors and especially the local volunteers in North Wales, with whose efforts we would not be in the position we are with this project.
Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is an International, Interdenominational, faith-based mission charity, focused on demonstrating God’s love practically. UK Charity registration 264078.