The work of The Douai Foundation Andy Taylor

The work of The Douai Foundation

The Douai Foundation is a new charitable trust that is looking to support Benedictine education around the world. It was created by the generosity of The Douai Society and generations of old Dowegians who had left money to their School over the years. This money was donated to Douai School for educational purposes, however since the School closed in 1999 the fund has rarely been used. This, combined with the reducing number of old boys, led the Douai Society to create The Douai Foundation, in memory of the School and its alumni.

Many of the Benedictine schools around the world operate in poor areas where the children are desperate for resources. It was decided by the Trustees that these schools were where the money would make the most difference. I was tasked with finding suitable schools in South America whilst other Trustees focused on Asia and Africa.

My first port of call was Fr Alexander da Costa, who has long been associated with Outreach Peru. He told me of three Benedictine schools in Chile, all of which were in the capital Santiago. The one most in need of our help, in the most disadvantaged part of the city was called Colegio San Lorenzo. The Manquehue Movement, a lay Benedictine movement, are very involved in the running of the School and one of their leaders in Santiago is Jonathan Parry. I emailed Jonathan and he replied telling me all about the School and the ways in which we could help. He put me in touch with the delightfully named Josefina Ringeling, Director of Fundraising, whose enthusiasm for the children and the School was infectious. She quickly

Trustees: Andy Taylor, Richard Sims, Richard Quarterman & Chris Vale

itemised areas that we could help and arranged a zoom meeting with the Headmaster so that we could discuss the specific donations.

I was amazed with the similarities between Worth and San Lorenzo, not financial, but spiritual. The Headmaster, given a donation of money from the Douai Foundation, prioritised pastoral care, the training and funding of courses for teachers and prefects, and the provision of ‘away days’ for his students out of the classroom in order to elevate the importance of compassion, service and community.

I will travel to Chile next year to meet these people and see how the charity has helped the School. Meanwhile, other Trustees of the Douai Foundation have found worthy educational causes in Africa at Inkamana High School and Ndanda School of Nursing, and in India at St Lioba School. If you would like to know more about the Charity and it’s work, please take a look at the Douai Foundation website:

www.douaifoundation.org

Andy Taylor, Former Teaching Staff 2000-2017

One of the schools supported by the Douai Foundation in Santiago, Chile