My January 3rd to March 3rd visit to Burundi was great but it included a technical challenge that resulted in no Newsletters and the technical problem was not resolved until very recently. This brief Canadian Haley-McCready Outreach and Development Newsletter begins with some sad news which some of you already know and continues with some good news that you probably do not know.
Lois Meredith
Mary Lois Meredith, a Member and Board Director for the Haley-McCready Outreach and Development Fund, died recently and I was pleased and privileged to be invited by her family to attend and speak at the Celebration of Life.
Lois graduated from London Teacher’s College and began her career by teaching in elementary schools in Ontario for 10 years. She then travelled to Burundi and taught missionary children for three years. Lois was commissioned by the Free Methodist Church Mission Board, assigned to Burundi and worked on education in schools, accounting training for churches, organizing Vacation Bible Schools for churches and visiting and encouraging rural churches.
Lois moved on to Rwanda and then to Kenya, where again her work involved in training and accounting. After her retirement, Lois volunteered and worked for six years with the International Child Care Ministries (ICCM) in Ethiopia. Lois spent her retirement staying involved on boards and committees, hosting and visiting friends from around the world, keeping up to date on current events and sharing her views and knowledge with others. More recently, Lois worked in Burundi another 4 winters with the Finance Department of Hope Africa University.
In reference to Lois’ death and her work with the University, Rev. Vital NGENDUKU, Director of Administration and Finance, stated, “It was very sad news to me and all of all.my colleagues at HAU for Lois has been a great blessing to HAU especially in Finance Department.”
Although I had heard about Lois Meredith and her long-term service in Africa, I did not know her until she was working with Hope Africa University. When our visits overlapped, I got to know Lois, respect her, enjoy her company and appreciate her interest in and support for the development work of the Haley-McCready Outreach and Development Fund.
As the late Rev. Burton Hamilton, a founding Board Director, was preparing to resign, he suggested that the Board consider inviting Lois Meredith. The Board agreed and I extended the invitation. As Lois had her own way of doing things, she had her own idea of how she would decide about joining the Board. She said she would like to be involved in a meeting before deciding. After the meeting inn June of 2023, we received her response.
“Good afternoon, John and Karen. Having listened to the two of you last Thursday, I feel you are quite able and competent to administer H-MODF. However, since I am also interested in development work in Burundi, if/as you are agreeable, I am willing to serve on the H-MODF Board.”
We were very pleased that Lois became a Member and a Board Director. Later, Lois also agreed to serve as our voluntary Bookkeeper. Being on the Board allowed Lois to continue her long-term service to Burundi. Using her experience and knowledge of Burundi, the Burundian culture, the Kirundi language, her bookkeeping skills and her love for Burundi and the Burundian people, Lois was a great addition to the Board and she made significant contributions. Lois was forthright and detailed-oriented. When Karen Perry, our Treasurer, learned of Lois’ death, she made the following comments.
“Thank you, John, for letting me know today about such a sudden loss. I liked Lois and always thought she manifested an admirable vitality and feistiness, as well as a sense of humour. I’m so sorry for her family and friends to have her leave us in this abrupt way.”
Yes, Lois lived a life of service. Lois was a dedicated contributor. She was forthright, committed, thoughtful and kind. We will remember her but we will miss her.
Call for Proposals
Starting in 2022, the Canadian Haley-McCready Outreach and Development Fund (H-MODF) has had three Calls for Proposals. We now have 13 agriculture development projects, 16 Project Managers (11 of whom are graduates of Hope Africa University’s Agriculture Program). The H-MODF has provided a one-time, start-up grant to 12 agriculture development projects and another project was started by one of our Project Managers without a grant; Abbie RUBUMBA. In November 2024, we had 13 project associations, 141 beneficiaries, 846 family members, many harvests (grains and vegetables), 42 animals (goats and pigs) and 3 sold animals. So now, we are announcing our fourth Call for Proposals as shown and described below.
Call for Proposals 2025
Submission Deadline: Saturday, May 24, 2025
The Haley-McCready Outreach and Development Fund – Canada provides grants to students and graduates of Hope Africa University (HAU) who submit a project proposal; an agriculture development project proposal, having the main purpose of relieving poverty among poor, vulnerable and uneducated indigenous community people in Burundi (see: www.Haley-McCreadyFund.ca).
Any HAU student or graduate who is willing to be a long-term, volunteer Project Manager is eligible and graduates of the HAU Agriculture Program are especially encouraged to submit a proposal.
The proposals must follow our successful H-MODF agriculture development project model and develop a self-help association of 10 to 12 poor and vulnerable women and involve three major development and income generating functions: (1) crop cultivation; (2) animal husbandry; and, (3) microfinancing. Applicants must clearly explain how their proposed project will develop the capacities of the beneficiaries; how the project will become self-supporting and self-sufficient; and, how the project beneficiaries will become self-managing and self-governing and self-sustaining through the project association; their own development organization (see examples: www.Haley-McCreadyFund.ca).
The grants are for the Burundian equivalent of $1,500.00 USD. The initial funded start-up and implementation period will normally be for about 12 months but the projects are expected to become self-supporting and self-sustaining and continue long into the future.
- All applications, all proposals must be submitted in English to John McCready as e-mail Word file attachments, using Arial 12-point font and the Canadian 2025 proposal outline and format.
- All applications must be submitted by Saturday, May 24, 2025.
If you decide to submit a proposal, you must use the Application Package 2025 that contains the current Canadian proposal outline/format and instructions. For a copy of the Application Package 2025 and for questions about the use of the proposal outline and format, you must e-mail John McCready.