For a long time I have been intending to write to you all but never materialized! Today I hope to send this letter.
More than to say ‘Thank You’ to the SCN Ministry Fund team, I want to share with you all the unbelievable positive changes that are happening in the children, their families/caregivers and the community to which they belong due to the continued support from this fund.
I want to give few examples of deep changes that are happening in children. There is a girl named Rinki. She is of one of the aboriginal communities. Her parents died of ill health and malnutrition; the relatives were going to sell her off but we brought her to live with us. Unbelievable changes are happening in her – from a frightened, skinny girl in rags she has emerged as a beautiful vivacious little thing!
With the support of the Ministry Fund, we have been able to provide a primary level of education to approximately 14,000 children. The same number of children was prevented from child marriage and bonded labor. Among these, at least a thousand children got married to literate/educated men. To our knowledge about 800 girls (now women) are doing job/ micro-enterprise and educating their children. Few are working in our organization. A notable fact is that when we began the project, girls’ (belonging to the rock bottom in the social ladder- the Bhuiya community) education in Chatra district was just four percent and marriageable age was from nine years onward!
Side by side with education the communities/families too were supported by the project. As a result, there is an organization of 1,200 empowered women who operates self-help programs and act as a liaison between the community and the government. This organization is the backbone of the villages for their socio-economic and political liberation. They lead many campaigns/movements against the destruction of the environment/land grabbing/many social evils.
I feel girl’s education is the seed from which a strong ‘tree’ (the village/family) grows to shelter/protect the community. The SCN Ministry Fund has been providing necessary nourishment for the fruition of this tree.
Thank you indeed!
Sister Joel Urumpil
Chetna Bharati NGO
Such need and abuse of children, it’s hard to imagine what these poor people suffer! Thank you, Sr. Joel, for giving me a small insight to the challenge you meet and the hope you give!
Thank you, Joel! You are passionate about the education of girl children. Naturally systemic change is evident among the Bhuia community.
Very well articulated Joel, the changes happening. I wish all those who facilitate the funds could articulate the changes,… We can say SCN are really and truly bringing about systemic change.. Thanks Joel for inspiring us