Malawi hostel in memory of Westmeath nurse nearing completion

Fresh fundraising appeal in Drumraney for project headed by local man Fr Martin Reilly

A hostel for female nursing students in the south-east African nation of Malawi, which will be named in honour of a nurse from Rosemount, is nearing completion after receiving significant financial support from the people of Westmeath.

A fundraising committee in Drumraney is now calling for a final funding push locally to help fit out the 84 bedrooms in the new facility.

With an official opening of the hostel due to take place in the spring, some members of the fundraising committee from the Drumraney area are hoping to make the journey to Africa for the special occasion.

The hostel in Mzunu, Malawi, is being built in memory of Eileen Browne, a native of Rosemount, Moate, who spent her life as a nurse and died in 2019.

Fr Martin Reilly, a native of Walderstown and nephew of Eileen, has been working as a missionary priest in Malawi since 2017.

In recent years he has been working on the hostel project designed for nursing students at St John's Institute for Health, which was set up in 1963 by the Medical Missionaries of Mary from Ireland.

"Malawi needs nurses now as much as ever. But many young people who dream of becoming a nurse are caught in a never-ending cycle of poverty, making it impossible to cover the cost of studying and accommodation," Fr Martin said.

Money which Eileen left to her nieces and nephews was donated to the hostel project but additional funding was needed. So far, fundraising initiatives such as a sponsored walk in Drumraney last year have helped raise some €35,000 for the project locally.

"A large proportion of the funding (for the hostel) came from the nieces and nephews of Eileen Browne. It was supplemented by other well-wishers, and in particular by the people of Drumraney parish," Fr Martin told the Westmeath Independent.

"In 2021, they had a very successful fundraising exercise which gave the project a wonderful boost. This helped offset some of the rising costs of materials. Malawi, like everywhere else, has been hit this year by huge increase in prices of literally everything."

Giving one example, he pointed out that the price of a 50kg bag of cement had increased by almost €4.50 in 2022. Given that 3,700 bags were needed for the project, this contributed to a major rise in the overall cost of building the hostel.

"Up to now, we have spent €228,247 on the project," said Fr Martin. "Initially we thought we could do it for much less than that, but with the good response from so many people we increased bed numbers from 68 to 84, and then (the price increases) hit us."

The construction work has been underway since March and the hostel is now roofed, most of the plastering is done, and most of the electrical and plumbing has been completed.

"At present we are doing the finishing. It is intended to be environmentally friendly, and so we have installed an underground rainwater tank and lighting and sockets in rooms will all be solar powered.

"The building contractor, Mr Kondwani Nkhata, assures us that the construction will be finished in January and we hope that it will be ready for use immediately after the finishing."

Fr Martin said he was hopeful some visitors from Drumraney would be able to make the trip to see the hostel for themselves when it's officially opened in the spring.

"The bishop of the diocese, Bishop John Ryan from Tipperary, will perform the opening ceremony, which will include blessing the building and unveiling a plaque to Eileen Browne, with a mention of the main donors.

"We are hoping that some Drumraney people can come for the opening. It will be a good opportunity for them to see the fruits of their efforts, to be publicly thanked for their generosity, and to get a little taste of life here in Mzuzu."

Pat Allen, the chair of the local fundraising committee, said it would cost approximately €100 to fit out each of the 84 rooms for the prospective nurses in the hostel.

"We are hoping that people might be willing to sponsor the fit out of a room, or that maybe two people might come together and share the cost of sponsoring a room," said Pat.

If people wish to contribute to the fundraising effort, they are asked to contact Pat Allen (087 8583081), David Kincaid (087 9150065), Pascal Seery (087 9634494), or any committee member.