About us

The Missionvale Ireland Trust was established in late 2008 as the Irish support arm to the Missionvale Trust in South Africa.

Missionvale Ireland was set up in response to what many Irish had witnessed and experienced during their 10-day working visit to Missionvale, South Africa, in Jan/Feb 2008.

The strategy of the Missionvale Care Centre has been expertly thought out and put together by Sr. Ethel Normoyle and her team in the shantytown. However, what is blatantly obvious to anyone visiting Missionvale is the immediate need for funds.

The fragile lifeline that the Care Centre throws to the inhabitants of Missionvale is totally dependent on financial support

The Primary AIM of the Missionvale Ireland Trust is to play its part in Ireland to provide some of this financial support, to relieve poverty and provide education to those in need of medical, spiritual, humanitarian, hospice and palliative care in the Missionvale Township in South Africa.

1988: Sister Ethel Normoyle, a member of the Little Company of Mary, came to Missionvale eager to share the gospel values of compassion and love with the poor. She set up a school and basic clinic under a tree. A group of concerned business leaders visited the area, resulting in the building of three small rooms for the school and clinic.
1988: Mother Theresa visited the Centre.
1989: Union of Jewish Women chose Sister Ethel as Woman of the Year.
1990: Sister Ethel was chosen as Port Elizabeth Citizen of the Year.
1992: The first phase of the Care Centre officially opened. This included a fullye quipped clinic, nutrition unit, library and administration offices.
1995: Opening of the two Pre-primary classrooms.
1995: Queen Elizabeth visited the Care Centre and in her Christmas message to the Commonwealth, she paid tribute to the wonderful work that Sister Ethel does at the Care Centre.
1996: Sister Ethel received the Tipperary Peace Award in Ireland. Previous recipient was Nelson Mandela.
1997: Opening of the Community Hall used for skills training and later, a Centre for the Crafters Unit.
2001: Sister Ethel received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Port Elizabeth.
2002: Opening of the Clothing Warehouse.
2002: Opening of Our Lady of the Wayside Church.
2004: Sister Ethel awarded two Paul Harris Fellowships by Rotary.
2004: Community Gardens become viable after improved water supply and training are accessed.
2005: Opening of four classroom Primary School Building by Mr. Gerard Corr, Irish ambassador.
2006: Start of Home Based Care initiative and other projects directly focused on HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Sister Ethel was keynote speaker at Rotary International Convention in Copenhagen.
2006: Missionvale Australia launched, see www.missionvale.com.au.
2007: Launch of Carpentry Unit and start of building operations for The Resource Centre.
2007: Sister Ethel awarded Clare person of the year in Ireland.
2008 (Jan): 164 Irish builders arrive in shifts to complete the building for the Resource Centre including a Hospice.
2008 (Feb): Sister Ethel honoured by President of South Africa at opening of Parliament for the integrated approach of the Missionvale Care Centre in the fight against HIV/Aids.
2008 (Feb): Missionvale Care Centre host an interfaith celebration and day of thanksgiving in recognition of their 20th Anniversary. On this same day, the new Resource Centre building is officially opened by the Bishop of Port Elizabeth, Bishop Mike Coleman, Bishop Willie Walsh from Ireland with the Irish Ambassador, Mr. Colin Wrafter, in attendance.
2008 (May): World Aids Candlight Day is celebrated as the staff and volunteers move into the new Resource Centre to continue work on health and children centred programs.
2008 (Sep): Sister Ethel shares the message of Missionvale in California, USA. She was invited by the Rotary Foundation to be the keynote speaker at their annual Foundation Seminar, Making Dreams Real for the Children of the World.
2008 (Nov): Missionvale Ireland Limited is launched, see www.missionvaleireland.org.
2009 (Jan): 32 Irish volunteers arrive to complete building the Caretakers Cottage project

The Missionvale Care Centre operates in the extremely poor informal shackland township of Missionvale in Port Elizabeth, South Africa - part of the wider Nelson Mandela Metropole. It was founded by Sister Ethel Normoyle, from humble beginnings, under a tree donated by a resident of Missionvale. It has grown into a Centre which provides love and care for the poor and destitute, with particular emphasis on those living with HIV/AIDS. It remains true to her original vision and is now steered by the Board of Directors of Missionvale, South Africa.

The Mission

Missionvale Care Centre is an interdenominational, non-profit organization committed to providing quality care and support to improve the life of the people of Missionvale through love, consultation, participation and self-development. It responds to the many needs of the people in the circumstances in which they live.

The Purpose

To provide an essential health, social and spiritual service.
To provide primary and pre-primary school education and other forms of educational development.
To promote a stable and harmonious home and community environment.
To develop a sense of pride and ownership in the people of Missionvale.
To concentrate on the development of children, especially those orphaned and vulnerable.
To use all the resources of the Care Centre to treat, alleviate and most importantly, prevent the scourge of HIV?AIDS.
To consolidate the achievements of the last 21 years by becoming self-sustaining.