Scholarship recipients - India

Sonal (girl, age 19) and Samridhi (girl, age 17)
Sonal and Samridhi are sisters and very good in studies. Over and above they are toppers in extra curricular activities of the school, such as dance, drama competitions and elocution. Their father, Vincent Paul helps the Sisters while their mother, Usha, earns some income as a teacher in a private Middle School in Bettiah. Her salary is Rs. 2000 per month. The parents find it very difficult to provide for the education of their 3 daughters. Update October 2009: Sonal completed matriculation from St Teresa’s school, Bettiah, in February 2008, and passed with 70%. She attends many seminars and now she is elected on State Level to go to Japan on an excursion as a youth representative. Sister Crescence: “What joy and pride for the parents and especially for you. All help that came from you has been spent on a right person." Samridhi is currently in year 11. Sponsored by Francheska and Leonora Coenraads.

Ashish Kumar Majhi (boy, age 20)
Background: Ashish is a poor but very intelligent boy, and has always secured first place in all of his classes. His father was a cook in one of the convents. Ashish began at the Motihari Evening School and from there was recommended to the formal school, St Mary’s Motihari. Since Ashish has 4 sisters and one brother, his father, Nagender Majhi, was not able to help him as he only earns Rs. 1800 per month. One day he hopes to support his parents through his earnings. Update October 2009: Ashish completed high school with good results. He is doing college in private and learning computers. He has started teaching in a private school to meet all the experience of his studies. He is also privately preparing for banking. Ashish was sponsored by Gerhard Neuwiller.

Prasant D’cruze (boy, age 20)
Prasant is a student of St Mary’s Motihari. His father, Anil, is a man of small means who finds it very difficult to meet the yearly expenses of Prasant’s education. Prasant has turned out to be a champion in school athletics, especially in running, long jump and cricket. Sponsored by Valerie Paiva.

Pratima Das (girl)
Pratima's mother, Champa Devi, began selling vegetables in the evenings on the road side, after Pratima’s father, Ramjit Das, died 8 years ago with cerebral malaria. Pratima has two sisters and one brother, They live on the earnings from the roadside sales. All that the mother has is Rs. 300. The family lives in the open and have a diet of rice and salt. Their only clothes are the set they are wearing. When evening school started at Motihari, Pratima was called to evening school, where her talents and intellectual capacities developed. Pratima seems to be an all rounder and has became the leader of her class. Her performance on stage is admirable, seen by the visitors from abroad. She has studied up to class 6 at evening school, and is a genuine candidate for scholarship to the day school. Sponsored by Saskia Raevouri.

Jyoti Manjhi (girl, age 20)
Jyoti comes from a poor family; the family does not have their own house. Father Nursing Manjhi works in a mission as a gardener. Due to the lack of proper food Jyoti became ill with tuberculosis. Our Sisters felt pity on her and brought her to the Convent at the age of 9 years. She was given medication and proper food by the sisters. She improved and was so obliged to the sisters that she decided to live with sisters and serve them. She studied up to class 5 in N.F.P. education and then began 10th in our school. Now she is in year 10. Her parents cannot afford for her studies. Sponsored by Saskia Raevouri

Rufus (boy, age 9) and Mihir (boy, age 7)
Rufus and Mihir come from a broken home. Unfortunately, at the early stage, the marriage of their parents, Mala and Rajesh, became a failure. The father was a heavy drinker, and did not care or look after wife and children, so Mala returned to her parents with the two boys. Mala is teaching in a small private school and earns Rs 600 along with food per month. She has to maintain herself and the two sons. Rufus and Mihir stay at their grandparents' place at Bettiah. Rufus passed class 1st from St. Stanislaws Pathsala Bettiah and we helped him to get admission in Class 2nd of Mission School Bettiah run by Jesuits. Rufus obtained 1st Rank in his class. As Sister Crescence entered his house one day, she heard him shout, "I have passed in all subjects.” Update: Both passed in their annual exams. They are changing their school - from Hindi medium school, they are taking admission in an English Medium school, which is run by Holy Cross Sisters. Rufus is sponsored by Chelsea McLean.

Sapana Kumari (girl, age 9)
Introductory information: Sapana's real parents can not be traced; One early morning at 4 o'clock the traffic police heard the cry of a little child. Curious, he followed the direction from where the sound was coming and finally reached a heap of garbage. There he saw a tiny baby, 3-4 days of age, lying on garbage, wrapped in rags, Her leg was being eaten by ants. The child was sent to Mother Teresa's orphanage. She was well taken care of by the sisters for four months. One day, a couple came to the orphanage for a visit. After hear the sad history of Sapana, moved as they were, they decided to take the child and bring her up. Luckily the couple had no child of their own, so they became the parents of Sapana. Sapana is now in her first year at St Michael’s English Medium School, Bettiah, where her aggregate marks are above 80% or 90%. Sapana is smart, talkative, sharp, very intelligent, and very good in character. Sponsored by Saskia Raevouri.

Liza (girl, age 7)
Mr Ashok Benedict is a man of small means. He lost his father at age 5, and his widowed mother brought him up and educated him to secondary school level. He married and had 3 daughters – the second youngest one is Liza aged 6 years. Liza’s father is a teacher in a non-formal private Catholic school and his total salary is Rs. 1500, and with this he has to maintain his Christian family of five members. Liza is a student at St Aloysuis, Pattishala. Given the present financial condition of the family, Liza is recommended by the Parish Priest of Bettiah for financial help/scholarship. Update: Has passed well in exam and is promoted to 2nd class.

Mariyan Benedict (girl, age 8)
Mr Ashok’s eldest daughter is Mariyan aged 8 years. Maryan’s father is a teacher in a non-formal private Catholic school and his total salary is Rs. 1500, and with this he has to maintain his Christian family of 5 members. For Kindergarten and year one Mariyan was at St Aloysuis, Pattishala, and she is now a student at St Stanislaus Mission Middle School, Patishala. Given the present financial condition of the family, Mariyan is recommended by the Parish Priest of Bettiah for financial help/scholarship. Update: Is promoted to 4th class, has done very well in her exams and has been given a merit award.

Sonu Victor (boy, age 14)
Sonu is a poor boy but his mind is very sharp in studies. His father’s name is Victor Ishahaq who has no any job and has not been able to help in studies. Their mother, Asha, earns some income as a nurse in Bettiah. Update: Sonu passed well in annual exam with good marks and is promoted to class 10th in Sacred Heart School, Bettiah. He takes extra activities, such as dance, drama, sport and elocution. His further plan is to become a doctor.

Deepak Gyan (boy, age 12)
Deepak is the first child of Gyan Prakash and Clara, unfortunately. Gyan turned out to be a drunkard and made the life of all three miserable. So Clara left her home and came to a convent. There she was given a job to look after sick Sisters. These Sisters sent Deepak to Malighat, a convent school. They requested us to help Deepak. Update: Deepak has passed his annual exam in good rank and is now in 4th class. He attends to his study so well that Sister Principal is giving him double promotion.

Alaka Francis (girl, age 7)
She is very quiet and intelligent girl. Her father has no job but he earns something at casual works. Her mother earns Rs. 1500 per month, so she finds it very difficult to provide for the education of Alaka. Update: Now Alaka passed class 3rd from Sacred Heart School and is now promoted to class 4th of Sacred Heart School, Bettiah.