Sr Marco is an ‘angel’ to Mariannhill community
At the age of 76, Sr Marco Gneis is still very much hands on in assisting the community especially women and children.
SISTER Marco Gneis knew through her nursing work at St Mary’s Hospital that her passion lies in helping impoverished communities and empowering women.
Sr Marco (76) is the founder of Jabulani Self Hep Centre in Mariannhill which has been in existence for 30 years and caters for many families through their soup kitchen, crèche and teaches women many skills such as sewing, baking and gardening to help them earn an income.
She also supports many families financially and has assisted a number of children with school fees and uniforms to this day.
Born in Austria, she said like any other girl, she grew up with a hope of getting married and having children, but life had other plans for her which she does not regret as through her work she found a huge loving family at the centre.
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“I was a ‘good’ Catholic and I believe it was fate for me to become a nun. When I moved to South Africa in the 1960s I was being tested if I was going to manage the life of a nun and if I was truly dedicated to it.
“I worked at a children’s ward at St Mary’s and the poverty I saw made me very unhappy and I knew I had to do something,” she said.
Thirty years later, Sr Marco said she is content about becoming a nun as she would not have been able to do all the things she has done with her hard working team at the centre if she had a family to look after.
She said losing her parents at a young age made her the strong and caring woman she is. “I had an idea to start something like the centre and I have always wanted to work with people; it started very slowly and grew.
“I always encourage people not to rush things as if something goes too fast, it does not work out,” she said.
With the declining economy, Jabulani like many other NGOs, is in desperate need of funding. “It has been very hard as our women can not sell their work as tourists do not come to the centre anymore.”
On their wish list is mainly food and second-hand newborn to adult clothing. Contact 031 700 1817 to assist.
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