History

 

 By Joanna Lawson

In 2006  I went into Vietnam and stayed with the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions. I was only there for two weeks, but in that time something happened that has stayed with me, and to this day has not died off even one bit. What happened was that I saw what a difference one person really can make.

A Sister had set up a shelter for single mothers and pregnant girls who in Vietnam are treated like lepers. We heard from these girls how sometimes they were forced into prostitution because they were sold by their poor families. Some had boyfriends that dumped them when they got pregnant, and then were disowned by their families. But when they were sure that they were alone in the world, saddled with a stigma and a baby on the way, Sr Dominique took them in and showed them real love. She has saved many babies from abortion, and all the mothers there love their babies. Some are reconciled to their families. Some are battling on but want to make a better life for themselves and their new baby. Whatever it is, Sr Dominique has made this difference in her world. Just one person.

And so from there The Branches has grown. In 2009 a small group of dedicated volunteers went to India and we began the foundational work for the project.

For a short time we ran a small play group for the young children of the poor workers who have migrated to Goa to earn a better living than the miserable sums they get in their villages. We were only able to get a one year lease on a dilapidated property and are currently raising funds to buy a property of our own so we can run the school with the security of knowing it will be there in years to come. 

We also started the food distribution program which is now expanding. Have a look on our projects page for more information on the projects we are running at the moment.