Publications

This is an interactive flipbook. Use the arrows below the cover to navigate the magazine, or open it in full-screen mode for the best reading experience. Summary This edition reflects on education as one of the most enduring expressions of Mary Ward’s mission. Across the global Mary Ward International network, education continues to open pathways […]

Across Australia, too many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are navigating an education system that was not designed with them in mind. While progress has been made, significant gaps remain. Approximately one in three First Nations young people do not complete Year 12 or equivalent studies. Many face barriers, including distance, limited resources, and […]

As Jasmine finished school at St Mary’s Girls’ Secondary School in Darjeeling’s tea estates, she felt uncertain about what lay ahead. Like many girls in her community, she dreamed of pursuing higher education but had limited exposure to opportunities, guidance, and encouragement. That changed when she joined the Collective Voices Project’s Career Guidance Program at […]

This past year has brought exciting milestones for the Learning Support Program in Vinh Loc, Vietnam. During the summer break, which can last up to three months, 45 children attended the program, including many from the government system, eager to keep up with their learning. “I thought the children would want a break,” says Sr […]

Our newly expanded development network connects six Mary Ward International offices – Australia, Ireland, Spain, Peru, South Asia, and East Africa – with missions and partners around the world. Each brings a unique approach to supporting women, children, and communities, tailored to local needs through initiatives spanning education and livelihoods, health,and advocacy. These efforts are […]

Interview with Melanie Gonzales Zavaleta by Mary Ward International Peru For those working directly with the Childhood Without Fear Project, each day is an opportunity to stand in solidarity with children and families navigating hardship in Huaycán, Peru. This densely populated urban community on the outskirts of Lima is home to many families living on […]

For me, a Loreto alumna and former Loreto Ministries employee, and for many who have supported Mary Ward International over the years, the word Loreto carries a resonance that extends well beyond a name. It speaks to a tradition shaped by courage, conviction, and an enduring commitment to education and service – a legacy that […]

In India’s brickfields, migration is a way of survival. Each year, families leave their villages in search of work, moving from one brickfield to another. While migration provides a livelihood, it disrupts children’s education, leaving many behind and reinforcing cycles of school dropout and illiteracy. This reality has been especially harsh for women and girls. […]

Mary Ward International is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Susan Stevens as Chair of the Board of Directors, for a three-year term commencing 1 February 2026. Susan is well known across the Loreto network, bringing more than 25 years of deep engagement with Loreto education and governance. Her long-standing association includes two decades […]

Across our global Loreto community, young women continue to reflect Mary Ward’s call to “become agents of change” through creativity, compassion, and courageous thinking. One such voice is Ella, a Year 10 student from Loreto College Marryatville, whose recent artwork speaks powerfully to the resilience of communities living through conflict. Against a backdrop of global […]

Mary Ward International, The Loreto Sisters and the Aurora Education Foundation Partner to Support First Nations Students Mary Ward International and the Loreto Sisters are proud to announce a six-year partnership with the Aurora Education Foundation (Aurora), a First Nations organisation dedicated to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to achieve their educational and […]

From Chapatis to Cabinetry: Grace’s Journey At just 20 years old, Grace* was a mother to a three-year-old and facing an uncertain future. Financial hardship forced her to drop out of school, and she spent the days helping her mother run a small chapati stall near their home in Kibera, one of Kenya’s largest informal […]