The “Haren Alde Solidarity Day” is a very good occasion to publicize the Order’s NGO. Haren Alde are two Basque words that mean “for the benefit of others”. The NGO’s present director, Manuel Fernández, also affirms that the solidarity day is a good opportunity to “be grateful for the 17 years of existence, which with the generous collaboration of so many benefactors, have given a big help to the most needy, with around 200 projects of cooperation for development and the foster parenting of around 2,500 children from all our missions”.
The choice of the last Sunday of April for this celebration is motivated by the nearness of 24 April, feast of the conversion of Saint Augustine, and, above all, because most of the schools of the Order celebrate on these days the “Augustinian Week”.
Common project
Every year hereafter, the Augustinian Recollect NGO will propose a “common project” for the purpose of raising funds in each and every Recollect community for its financing.
For this time, the chosen project is located in Kenya. From there Haren Alde has received a request from the cloistered Augustinian Recollects for potable water for the recently inaugurated convent of our Lady of Consolation. It is a project which the NGO cannot present to public institutions for financing, hence its presentation to the whole Augustinian Recollect family for its realization.
In the letter sent by the director of Haren Alde to the Recollect communities, we read: “It is a good occasion to be in solidarity with our contemplative Augustinian Recollect sisters of Kenya, and with the people closest to that convent of that African land”.
