Sr. Bridget with group who successfully repaid loans.

For four decades, Holy Rosary Sisters have assisted in war-torn areas of need in "at-risk" situations. They were present before the refugee crises; they adapted their responses to the situation and continued to address the needs of displaced persons in and from: Biafra/Nigeria, Eritrea/Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Kenya, Sudan, Rwanda, Zambia, and Mozambique.

For more than two decades, Holy Rosary Sister Terry Shields has provided medical and other services to refugees who fled crises in Biafra, Eritrea/Ethiopia, Sudan, and Rwanda. Sister Therese Flynn also works to heal the physical and emotional wounds from civil wars in Rwanda and Sierra Leone. Over the years, other Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary have brought their expertise and love of the people to the soul-searing environs of refugee camps throughout Africa.

Women learning sewing skills.

Today…
Catholic Social Teaching proclaims, as one of its chief tenants, the Dignity of the Human Person. This concept is the very foundation of a moral vision for society. It is the concept most denied when people exhort to violence and turn on each other in war.

In war, it is women whose dignity is violated the most.

The following, sent by Sr. Margaret Connolly MSHR, gives a small insight into how even post war reintegration is more difficult for women and how Holy Rosary Sisters are advancing creative ways for women to reclaim their dignity.

SIERRA LEONE – After the War – What Now?
The film 'Blood Diamond' which was released world wide a few years ago was based on the many aspects of the 12 year Civil War in Sierra Leone. The war ended in 2002 and programmes of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration were set up. More than 70,000 ex-combatants voluntarily handed in their weapons, in return for an initial payment.

This was followed by training and support to find work or set up their own small business. Many of the women and girls could not join the official disarmament programme since they hadn't a gun to hand over. Other women didn't want to take part because of the fear of being identified as a female ex-combatant – many had been sexually abused and that carried a stigma.

	Overcoming the ravages of war About a year ago, near the end of our time in the refugee camp in Kountaya, Guinea, I was leaving to go home at the end of the day.  As I left the camp I saw a little girl of about seven struggling to keep up with her small brother.  She was handicapped and walked...   READ MORE... Nancy's Story Read the the letter of appreciation of the work of MSHR with refugees in Guinea

The Holy Rosary Sisters have been advancing the education of girls and women in the country since 1948. Although most of them were evacuated during the Civil War, a few returned to hold the fort until the war ended. With the arrival of peace, a new multicultural team of Holy Rosary Sisters returned. They have continued in the traditional field of education as well as initiating new areas to cater for the aftermath of the war, such as Trauma Counselling and HIV/AIDS Awareness.

Women learning auto mechanics skills.

Many girls missed out on their schooling; hence the Sisters run Adult Literacy and Tailoring Classes to enable them to earn a living. The most enterprising initiative is the training of the women in auto mechanics. Many of the male ex-fighters were given motorbikes as a means of livelihood. These add a new feature to the landscape in the form of 'taxi-bikes', which are in great demand in towns where there is no public transport. So the market is there for the female mechanics!

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