A NUN is preparing to travel from Zambia to east London to highlight the plight of communities living in abject poverty.

Sister Yvonne Mwalula Mwila works with CAFOD, a Catholic aid agency that sets up schools and provides support for HIV sufferers and disabled children.

Sister Yvonne, a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, works in Zambia where over half of the population live below the poverty line.

She said: “As a young girl I always wanted to become a sister because I was very inspired by the works that the sisters were doing in my home town.

“They opened my eyes to the greatest poverty, sicknesses - including during the highlight of the HIV pandemic - and just the great suffering that was very near to where I lived.

“Changing lives and providing small windows of opportunities for children with disabilities have been my greatest passion.”

As part of her tour of England and Wales, Sr Yvonne will visit Our Lady & St George Parish Hall in Shernhall Street, Walthamstow, at 7.30pm on Wednesday, February 22.

During Lent, the six weeks leading up to Easter, Catholic communities fundraise for charities and Sr Yvonne is hoping to tell people first-hand about the difference the cash is making.

CAFOD’s representative in East London, Chris Driscoll, said: “We would like to say a big thank you to Sister Yvonne for joining us this Lent. Lots of people in east London have fundraised for CAFOD and it’s great to hear about some of the work their generosity has made possible.

“It is the continued support from across England and Wales that helps empower communities around the world and it is so great to hear all the stories and experiences from Sister Yvonne in Zambia.”

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