Every year AIM USA provides direct financial aid from donations to monasteries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America in the form of grants through the AIM International office in Vanves, France.
AIM International receives and reviews the grant applications from developing monasteries. Twice each year, AIM USA, as one of nine country secretariats, selects those grants that it is able to fund from the accepted international list.
Thanks to your generosity, AIM USA helped to fund the following grants from November 2019 through December 2020:
AFRICA
· Angola - Four sisters from Huambo traveled to class for education.
· Chad – A monastery in Moundou installed a satellite-phone and internet connection.
· Eritrea - A monastery in Asmara translated a book in their primary language.
· Ivory Coast - Three sisters and a monk received a scholarship to study theology.
· Kenya – A sister in Karen received a scholarship for the final year of her medical studies.
· Kenya - A monk from Tigoni received a scholarship to study at San Anselmo’s.
· Nigeria – In Iwuru, a monastery purchased an oil press.
· Nigeria - A sister from Abakaliki received a scholarship to pursue a BA in pastoral communication.
· Rwanda – Ten monks received a scholarship in Huye.
· Tanzania – Monks in Mvimwa purchased a water supply and sanitation system.
· Tanzania – Sisters purchased monastic formation books in Mvimba.
· Uganda – A community in Arua purchased an embroidery machine for making vestments.
ASIA
· India – A monastery purchased eight cows to begin a dairy farm in Kappadu.
· India – In Kappadu, a community repaired the roof of the church.
· India – Purchased books and school uniforms.
· Philippines – A sister from Quezon received a scholarship to study music.
· Philippines – Two sisters received a scholarship to study.
· Vietnam – A community in Thuduc conducted three projects for sisters to study, fourteen studied at college and five studied theology.
LATIN AMERICA
· Brazil – One sister received a scholarship for an online course.
· Brazil – One sister received a scholarship for her 2nd year online course.
· Brazil – Sisters in Caxambu repaired their monastery and built a kitchen to serve the hungry in their area.
· Brazil - A monk from Fortaleza received a scholarship to study for the priesthood and obtain his Philosophy/Theology degree.
· Brazil – Sisters in Itapeceriaca purchased books and materials needed for education.
· Brazil - A sister from Santa Cruz received a scholarship to study the art of iconography.
· Nicaragua – A community improved their library.
· Mexico - A priest received a scholarship to study at Sant' Anselmo.
· Peru – A monk received a scholarship to study philosophy.
Eastern Europe
· Poland – A monk received from Tyniec received a scholarship to study in Jerusalem.
Thanks to your generosity, AIM USA helped to fund the following grants from November 2018 through October 2019:
AFRICA
· Benin - Monasteries in Parakou and Hekanme received a generator to have electricity. They hope to utilize solar energy.
· Namibia - Four sisters from Oshikuku participated in the Association of African Benedictines of St. Mechtildis’ meetings in order to discuss matters of importance.
· South Africa - Two sisters from Twasana received travel expense funds to study social work and nursing in Chicago. They will return to minister in their community and local area.
· Tanzania - A sister from Our Lady Help of Christians, Ndanda, Tanzania completed her final year of medical laboratory study.
ASIA
· Madagascar - Superiors participated in the Meeting of Monastic Superiors (SIM) course.
· Philippines – A sister from Manila attended the Course of Monastic Formation (CMF) in Rome.
· Philippines – Two sisters from the Philippines, Pampanga and Vigan, attended the “Leadership and the Rule of Benedict” (LRB) course in Rome.
· Taiwan/Philippines/Vietnam- Nine superiors (six from Philippines/three from Vietnam) attended the Benedictines of East Asia and Oceana (BEAO) meeting in Taiwan.
· Vietnam - 14 students received scholarships to the Inter Congregational Institute in Ho Chi Minh Villa.
LATIN AMERICA
· ABECCA – Cistercians and Benedictines participated in the 2019 Association of Benedictines and Cistercians of the Caribbean and the Andes (ABECCA) meeting in Costa Rica.
· Brazil - Two sisters from Bahia attended a Cistercian formation course in Rome.
· Colombia - A new women’s community in El Rosal remodeled an old building to have safe housing.
· Mexico - Provided funds for a speaker for the Union of Benedictines and Cistercians in Mexico (UBCM) summer course in Mexico.
· Mexico - A priest from Cuernavaca studied sacramental theology at Sant’ Anselmo
· Peru - A monk from Lurin received living expenses while he studied Philosophy in Rome.
INTERNATIONAL
· ICBE - Assisted with the funding of the International Commission of Benedictine Education Meeting (ICBE)
NOVEMBER 2017 to OCTOBER 2018 GRANTS:
AFRICA
· Burkina Faso - for the construction of a wall
· Congo (Dem. Republic of) - for a group of monks and nuns to take theological classes
· Eritrea - for a monk to study biblical archaeological theology in Rome
· Ivory Coast - for three brothers to study theology
· Kenya/Uganda - workshop for novices of Benedictine and Cistercian association of Kenya and Uganda (BECIAKU)
· Sri Lanka - for the acquisition of a humidifier to improve production of altar breads
· Uganda - for two sisters to participate in a year-long formation course
ASIA
· India - for Sisters to purchase liturgical materials for prayer for themselves and their retreat house
· India - for six monks for higher studies in theology and philosophy
· India - for the initial formation of seven aspirants and three novices
· Philippines - for “Rule of Benedict Intensive study weeks” for monastics in the Asia Pacific region and Africa
· Philippines - for three Benedictine communities of Nuns to take part in a formation and retreat program
LATIN AMERICA
· Brazil - for the formation of young members of the Camaldolese community
· Brazil - for a printing machine to develop the printing shop of a monastery
· Brazil - to replace the roof of the church and sacristy damaged by a violent storm
· Mexico - for Sisters to repair their monastery after an earthquake
· Peru - for two Brothers to complete their final year in Theology
INTERNATIONAL
· DIM/MID - for a meeting
APRIL 2017 GRANTS FUNDED BY AIM USA:
ASIA
· India - for a monk to take a course in Rome on the Rule of Benedict
· Philippines - to repair a washhouse damaged by a typhoon
· Sri Lanka - for travel for a sister to take a language course
· Vietnam - for studies for a monk
AFRICA
· Cameroon - for funding to reconstruct part of a building after a devastating fire
· Eritrea - for scholarships for four monks to study philosophy and theology
LATIN AMERICA
· Mexico - for funding for a car for Sisters in a mountainous region with little access to public transport
INTERNATIONAL
· DIM/MID - for a meeting
APRIL 2016 GRANTS FUNDED BY AIM USA:
AFRICA
· Burkina Faso - for the ongoing formation of the members of the monastic community
· Madagascar - for the continuing education of young Cistercian monks and nuns
· Nigeria - for the first-year studies of a Cistercian Sister
· Uganda - to purchase a photocopier
ASIA
· India - to repair the roof of a school building
· India - to purchase a tractor to improve agriculture for about seven acres of land
· Vietnam - for an additional scholarship for a Trappist monk
LATIN AMERICA
· Brazil - to enable a Cistercian monk to study in Rome
· Guatemala - for an ecology project to improve nutrition and taking care of the earth through organic growing of vegetables and medicinal herbs.
NOVEMBER 2015 GRANTS FUNDED BY AIM USA:
AFRICA
· Congo - for a Benedictine monk to study to be an infirmarian
· Nigeria - for a Benedictine community of nuns to buy breviaries
· Nigeria - for a Benedictine community of Sisters to construct a poultry house to aid with their income
ASIA
· India - for a scholarship to enable a Benedictine monk to study Counseling/ Psychology
· Philippines - for monks and nuns to attend a joint Benedictine and Cistercian Conference
· Vietnam - for a scholarship to enable seven Cistercian Sisters to study
LATIN AMERICA
· Brazil - for a monk to participate in the Cistercian monastic formation course in Rome
· Brazil - to enable a Benedictine sister to purchase materials of iconography
INTERNATIONAL - to enable Cistercian sisters and monks to participate in ongoing formation in Rome.
APRIL 2015 GRANTS FUNDED BY AIM USA:
AFRICA
· Benedictine Communities of Southern Africa - for temporary professed monastics to attend a formation workshop
· Tanzania - for a host baking machine that makes both small and large hosts with minimal electricity consumption, a ministry of Benedictine Sisters
ASIA
· India - for a monk to attend a seminar and write a thesis in Rome
· India - for a monk to participate in the Monastic Renewal Program at Sant' Anselmo
· Philippines - for participants to attend the Benedictine-Cistercian Conference of the Philippines
LATIN AMERICA
· Brazil - CIMBRA in Brazil- to attend a seminar on the Rule of Benedict
· Nicaragua - for sisters to buy a machine for labeling jam bottles
NOVEMBER 2014 GRANTS FUNDED BY AIM USA:
AFRICA
· Benin - to create an apiary at the monastery
· Congo - for the studies of two sisters
· Ethiopia - for a scholarship for a Cistercian Monk
· Togo - for the formation of a professional infirmarian
ASIA
· Sri Lanka - for studies of a monk in Rome
· Vietnam - for scholarships for 13 sisters to study Theology
LATIN AMERICA
· Ecuador - for a community re-forestation project
APRIL 2014 GRANTS FUNDED BY AIM USA:
AFRICA
· Benedictine Union of Tanzania - for the centennial meeting and conference
· Eritrea - to construct an underground water reservoir
· South Africa - for the Benedictine Communities of Southern Africa (BECOSA) meeting
ASIA
· India - for sisters to install a liturgical vestment workroom and purchase machines
· Philippines - for the Holy Rule study weeks at the Tagaytay Spirituality Center
· Vietnam - for an additional scholarship for a Cistercian monk to study
LATIN AMERICA
· Argentina - to help with the publication of monastic books
· Brazil - for the formation program of the monks
· Brazil - for a brother to attend the Cistercian formation course in Rome
· Latin America-general - for a regional meeting of monks and nuns
You are making a difference in the lives of our brother and sister monastics. Thank You!
