Seeing with New Eyes

A group of 40 teachers led by Fr. Alwyn D’Souza SJ, Administrator of the Primary School headed to St. Joseph’s PU College, Anekal on the 26th of October 2019

Their mission was to interact with the students in the village college but when they entered the premises, their image of a village college was to change forever. With the festival of lights round the corner, the special assembly was based on the joyous celebration. The teachers sang a couple of hymns and presented a speech in English and Kannada to put forth the message that Diwali is the festival of lights not crackers and hence the students should refrain from using fireworks.

The teachers were then allotted to different classes to interact with the students - to encourage them to study, tell them the different ways of studying and help them to plan their future. Most of the students were from areas in the vicinity of the college and had quite a few plans for further studies. It was heartening to hear the animated plans of the young citizens of the nation.

The next halt was at the CIRW (Centre for Integral Rural Welfare) Office. Pastoral care, education, social action and formation of the young in 52 villages is part of the work being done by the Jesuit Fathers and Brothers in Anekal. The change was visible with woman empowerment through tailoring and beautician courses, self-help groups, small-saving groups, children clubs, study centres and mobile health centre programmes. The teachers from SJBHS were, by now, a changed lot – a group in awe of the extent of involvement of the villagers in their own welfare guided by the selfless efforts of the Jesuits.

Halt three was at the Balajyothi Girls’ Hostel run by the Sisters. The interaction with the girls was an eye opener. They danced and sang like their counterparts in any big city. Once they had found their comfort zone with the SJBHS staff, they were all out to please. The next stop was one of the villages adopted by the Jnana Jyothi group of Institutions run by the Jesuits. The coordinator of the village group told the teachers about their life, education, resources and future plans.

All in all it was an eye opener and deeply fulfilling trip and we hope to make many more.