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Paster Lannwit gears up for AGM after first successful five weeks |27 June 2015

 

 

 

The NGO Paster Lannwit has been on duty at night on the streets of Victoria for five weeks now. There are 27 volunteers, 17 of whom are trained to go out on the streets and offer assistance to the vulnerable.  The rest are prayer pastors who support the team back at base.

The aim of the NGO, loosely modelled on similar approaches around the world, is to have teams of Christian volunteers on the streets during the late hours of the night, targeting Fridays and/or Saturdays, providing support and assistance to those needing a helping hand, support, or some spiritual assistance if asked.
 
They began on Friday evenings from 7pm to 11pm and have moved their support to Saturday nights instead, from 10pm to 2am.

In their first five weeks of operations the teams have met and talked to six persons who have reported not having a residence who were found to be wandering around the streets of Victoria, seven others, male and female, who identified themselves as sex workers, three persons who confided that they were addicted to drugs, and help was provided to eight other individuals who were under the influence of alcohol.
 
The teams dispensed bottled water to those in need and protein bars, along with business cards directing those in need to where they can reach out for help.  

The teams sought the help of the police on several occasions where persons were found to be unresponsive, possibly due to alcohol intoxication, and medical assistance as well for transport to the Seychelles Hospital.  

Regarding persons found to be unconscious, the teams are trained to place that person in a recovery position first, with head to the side and staying with the unconscious individual until he or she can recover from the situation.  

A major part of the work during the evenings and one which is often asked for by those met by the teams, are prayer requests for those in need and for family members.  In such cases the team makes contact with the supporting prayer pastors by telephone, who pray for both the team and those asking for help.

The project is being supported by SPTC who is providing transport to take the volunteers back home at the end of their duty. Additionally they are sponsored by Airtel for mobile phones and uniforms which are worn by the volunteers. Paster Lannwit is very grateful for this support, and also for the support, vigilance and guidance given by the officers of the Seychelles Police Force.

As for the new NGO, its first AGM will be held at the Conference Hall, Priests’ House, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday July 11 at 10am. Paster Lannwit invites voting members from two categories:

1.    Any recognised Christian Church in the Seychelles, represented by one official representative.

2.    Any individual member of any recognised Christian Church in the Seychelles.

Nominations for positions of Board members can be made in advance to Archdeacon Danny Elizabeth, Chair, or at the meeting.

 

 

 

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