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Magheragall Sunday School and JAM group learn about the Wichí community

Wednesday July 15th 2026

This year, the Diocese of Connor is partnering with SAMS Ireland to support the Church in Northern Argentina both prayerfully and practically.

The partnership primarily supports the Wichí people in the Chaco region. It provides vital agricultural training for communities and schools, develops local theological training, and equips the church with resources.

Magheragall Parish Church has embraced this partnership project, and after Easter, the Sunday School and JAM group began their final session using resources provided by SAMS – The Garden Project.

Here, the young people share what they learnt about the Wichí people:-

In Argentina, the Wichí people who live in the rural north of the country in an area known as the Chaco, are extremely poor and struggle to get enough food to keep their families healthy.

Alec Deane who has lived and worked with the Wichí people for over 30 years, is helping to make things better. He has started ‘The Garden Project’ which helps families grow vegetables and fruit in their gardens.

It is often hot and dry in the area where the Wichí live. Alec provides families with good seeds and installs a drip irrigation system. A drip irrigation system is made up of rows of hose laid on the ground. The hose has lots of little holes in it to let water leak out.

Once in place, the hose is attached to a tap at one end. The seeds can then be planted. Without the good seed that Alec provides and the irrigation system, the plants would not survive. With both these things in place the families have healthy plants to eat!

We learnt that the Wichi children face very real hardships. Alec Deane felt called to help the Wichí people when he heard of a young Wichí girl who had died of protein deficiency. 

The areas where Alec is bringing help and support have the highest infant mortality rates in Argentina. Eight out of every 100 children born in these areas do not live to see their fifth birthday – that is the same as two children out of every Primary 1 class in our country dying because they did not have enough to eat.

Last year Alec helped around 80 Wichí families to grow fresh food in their garden plots. We also found the Wichí Prayer a great help when we asked God to help them.  

T h e  W i c h í  P r a ye r

Dear God,
For the Wichí young people my age who are part of the Garden Project,
Lord help them today.
For Wichí families without gardens,
Lord create new opportunities for them.
For Wichí gardeners who labour in the heat,
Lord be close to them today.
For the forests devastated by bulldozers
Lord help us to value your creation.
We give you thanks for people such as Alec Deane,
Lord, bless him this day.
We pray that you will guide Alec in the many decisions he has to make,
Lord, guide him today.
Thank you for helping us to understand a little more about the wider world, Lord, help us to bring change for good in your world. Amen

At Sunday School and JAM, we have all enjoyed using the resources and learning about the Wichi people and Alec’s hard work and dedication in helping them. We asked the Rev Nicholas [Dark] could we share about the Wichí people at our parishes Sunday School Gift Day and Anniversary Service. The rector invited Geoff Hamilton [Director of SAMS Ireland].

We were blessed to have Geoff Hamilton with us at our special service. His talk was so informative and entertaining. We look forward to inviting Geoff back later in the year to present a donation. The children have collection boxes and any loose change you may have would be greatly appreciated.

We also celebrated the birthday of our beautiful church that day and enjoyed sharing lunch after the service. Our current church was opened on the June 2 1831, making this Sunday our 195th Birthday.  

Please keep the Wichi people and Alec Deane in your prayers.

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