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THE
Catholic Leader Keeping Faith with You
www.catholicleader.com.au
OVER TO YOU
August 27, 2017. Issue 5466
Queensland Price $2 / $2.50 Interstate
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PeoPle
Italian musical duo with sights set on an Australian visit
P 28
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PINTEREST
FEATURE
Five-page guide to pilgrimage and retreat options
P 12-16
YOUTUBE
nEwS
All Hallows’ School graduate shocked by refugee visa process starts a new charity
P 3
Catholic community offers education and hope to refugee family
helping hand
By Mark Bowling
SIERRA Leone youngster Kingsley Koroma has a smile to light up any classroom.
The ve-year-old started prep at Our Lady of the Rosary primary school, Kenmore last week, after local parishioners dug deep to do-
nate tens of thousands of dollars needed to
cover his school fees.
“I am so happy about it,” Kingsley’s mother, Manjia, who was overwhelmed with the gener- osity of local parishioners, said.
“It is such a surprise to me to see people come together and help.”
Newly-arrived mother and son were sponsored to come to Brisbane where Ms Koroma will spend the next four years studying to improve her nursing quali cations.
“Studying in the outside world is a vast dif- ference to Sierra Leone, where the educational system is so poor,” Ms Koroma said.
“When I return there, I will be able to save
more lives.
“I will train more nurses.”
The Koromas’ host family in Brisbane, Jane
Shakespeare and husband Jeremy Davies, were taken by surprise when they learnt they would have to pay full international student fees for Manjia’s studies, and that Kingsley’s primary education would also have to be paid at the full international rate of $15,000 per year.
When Our Lady of the Rosary principal Andrew Oberthur heard of Kingsley’s massive education bill, he put out a call for help via the school’s newsletter and social media.
“I was overwhelmed at the response,” Mr Oberthur said.
COnTinUed page 6
Generosity: Sierra Leone youngster Kingsley Koroma with (from left) Our Lady of the Rosary primary school principal Andrew Oberthur, Kingsley’s mother Manjia Koroma, family sponsors Jeremy Davies and Jane Shakespeare. Photo: Mark Bowling