Rome (Fides Service) - Celebrations for the centenary of the birth of Saint Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, have just concluded. On the occasion of his canonisation in Rome 6 October 2001, the organising committee started a Harambee Project 20002 solidarity fund for educational projects in Africa. Fides Service asked Linda Corbi, project co-ordinator about the results.

What response was given to Harambee 2002?
The response was enthusiastic. When the project was presented in October 4, people were deeply moved by an address given by Dr Leon Tshilolo a medic in Democratic Congo who said: "We Africans will build our own hospitals". Many Africans have already become agents of their development, and Harambee 20002 was born for them and with them. The project reflects the will of Saint Josemaria Escriva, a great former of formators: Harambee aims to focus on education, the key to development.

The canonisation date 6 October, was the day for collecting funds and then what happened?
We have only just begun. We continue to receive donations from people anxious to collaborate with Harambee 2002 who were unable to be in Rome last October 6. Others write that they were unable to hand in their envelopes in time. On the other hand we receive numerous presentations of projects in need of funding, from various countries in Africa.

How much has been collected so far?
On 15 November 2002, we had collected 450,000 Euro. Today we have more than 550,000 Euro. We also have a web site www.harambee2002.org. This will be updated periodically so that our donors can see the progress of both collections and projects. We also offer testimony on the significance of Harambee 2002, this reflect the idea that all give and all receive.

You have other projects
We have received projects from Mozambique, Sudan, Democratic Congo, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Togo. These will be examined by a team of experts and listed and then financed during 2003. The web site gives all the details. (Fides Service 15/1/2003)