In the winter of 2006/2007, Rolf Infanger had the opportunity to meet Father Carolus in a small restaurant in Pathein, Myanmar. Rolf did not expect that a charitable association would come about from that meeting.
This video is only in italian available.
Providence or tighten their belts
A few days after the sudden and untimely death of his wife, Rolf Infanger received an invitation from a dear friend to go with him to Myanmar. After about three months, Rolf Infanger and his friend made their way to Burma, now called Myanmar. On a hot and humid tropical evening the decisive meeting with Father Carolus took place. Fr Carolus told them about his work as a priest in the village of Kanazogo. Kanazogo is located on the delta of the Irrawaddy River, inhabited by 4,000 people. Father Carolus runs a boarding school for 120 children there, with 21 orphans; and more than 40 orphans who have only one parent. The children come from poor families who live in remote and isolated villages and have no opportunity to attend school. When Father Carolus was asked how he manages meet the needs of the children, he said with bright eyes: "Divine Providence" "And if you don’t have anything?" "Then we tighten our belts!"
Only €25 per day is enough to maintain 120 children.
With only €25 per day Father Carolus supports 120 children. This amount includes expenses for food, clothing, school fees, medicines and diesel to run a generator. We asked if the sum was correct, Father Carolus redid the calculation and the result was the same. In Germany a pizza with drinks for two people costs about the same amount as is needed to keep 120 children in Myanmar?
This thought was shocking, and at that moment Rolf Infanger realized that his life would change.
Solidarity with the poorest - the foundation of a charity
Returning home, Rolf spoke to friends and family about the extreme poverty lived by the people of Myanmar and Father Carolus’ commitment. Many friends spontaneously began to give him money, mostly with this comment: "Here's the money to keep the kids for a day, a week, a month." An avalanche of solidarity had been activated. A German friend, who was also a lawyer, recommended establishing an association with statutes and a board of directors, giving priority to transparency so as to see clearly where all the contributions were destined. After a few months a charity was founded called Mary Schregel, the name of the late wife of Rolf Infanger-Schregel. This association is legally recognized in Germany as a non-profit organization.
Financial support for a nursing home for the elderly
While this association was being founded in Germany, in Myanmar, Magdalena, a nurse belonging to the Karen ethnic group, went to Bishop John at Pathein, to tell him of her intention/desire to dedicate her life to the poorest of the poor, as did Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The Bishop therefore sent her to Father Carolus and being aware of the difficult living conditions of the elderly in Kanazogo, he suggested that she open a nursing home. Father Carolus could not help Magdalena financially but could give her some land if she needed it. So Magdalena, with all her savings (about €2000) built a bamboo house with a cement floor. However, shortly afterwards, in 2008, the house was completely destroyed by Typhoon Nargis. Fortunately there were no casualties. With the help of the Italian organization AMU they were able to build two new stone houses, each for 14 people in need. Their livelihood was partly funded by the Mary Schregel Charitable Association.
Emergency aid after natural disasters
After the disastrous typhoon Nargis of May 2008 that cost the lives of 200,000 people, the emergency aid from our association was directed to the 1,700 survivors who took refuge at the mission. For the first five months, with funds raised by the Mary Schregel Charitable Association, steps were taken to send medical supplies and basic necessities, and to facilitate the building of dry shelters for use during the monsoon period.
Micro credit
One of the Charity’s new projects is to provide micro loans to widows who lost their husbands, and sometimes even their children and all their possessions during natural disasters. This has given new hope to women by allowing them to build a new life and a secure future, for example by raising chickens, ducks, pigs and fish.
Paralyzed young women open a school of embroidery
Three young paraplegics, belonging to the poorest families in the village, so poor they do not even have a wheelchair, and who had no education and were "trapped" in the privacy of their homes, had a chance to learn to embroider with financial aid from our association.
The success of the sale of their embroidered goods meant that it was possible to start an embroidery class attended by 10 girls in the village. The following year, another 12 students had the opportunity to learn a career and contribute an income for their families by selling their embroidery.
Dressmaking
Encouraged by the success of the school of embroidery, it was decided to open a sewing school with 15 places. Because there was no electricity in the village treadle Singer sewing machines were bought. Three courses were held, each for 15 girls. At the time/currently plans are to help those who have completed their training to open their own clothing shops.
Pain, despair, discomfort in starting the Mary Schregel Charity Association
Rolf Infanger recalls the day of his first visit to the village of Kanazogo in Myanmar. The military government allowed him one day to visit the village in that area which at that time was forbidden to tourists. He was stopped six times by the police or the army; he had been checked and interrogated and had the feeling that he was not meant to see the poverty that he had discovered. But Rolf had learned from his late wife to keep his eyes open and see what he should not have seen. Deeply touched by the poverty and also by the dignity of the people, he left the village accompanied by the police. That first visit was the seed that motivated him to start the Mary Schregel Charity Association which is now developing more and more.
