Every second summer holidays (December/ January) a small group
of boys from Trinity go on a pilgrimage to India. This began in
December 1991.They take with them funds raised during the year to
give to various institutions in need in India. They visit, give
donations and provide service to:
M.I.T.H.R.A. - (Madras Institute
To Habilitate Retarded Afflicted).., the home in Madras (now
Chennai) started by an Australian nun, Sr Theodore, for
the poorest of the poor of Madras. The poorest of the poor are
the disabled children from the slums. Any disability is regarded
as a "curse from God", and therefore parents are ashamed
of a handicapped child. Sr Theodore and her helpers have tried
to convince parents that all children are a blessing and that
they all have potential. At MITHRA there are about 60 residential
children, and 200 day pupils. All of these children have disabilities
and they are from the slums. Without Sister's support these
children would be just left to their own devices in the slum
dwellings. Sister is totally dependent of four Christian Brothers
schools in Australia for her support. Every dollar is worth
27 rupees!
St Georges' Poor School,
Bow Bazaar, Calcutta. - this school in the heart of Calcutta
operates three times a day. The first "school" is
for the poor Christian children from the city. Without St Georges,
these children could never get an education. Literacy is so
highly prized by all children in India where education is a
privilege, not a right! The donation from Trinity provides a
lunch for every boy five days a week. This is nutrition that
these children lack at home. The second school (12.00 - 4pm)
is for the street children, and the third school (4-6pm) is
for the rag-pickers! This school just provides electricity so
these children can study after dark.
St Mary's Orphanage, Calcutta:
- This institution has 200 residential boys from abusive
and neglect backgrounds. These children are retarded in growth
and academics simply because of their poverty and therefore
a lack of nutrition. By living at the Orphanage, the Brothers
provide these boys with three meals a day, games, exercise and
intensive remedial education. The money from Trinity supports
this specific programme. This is where Jim McGinniss lives.
We also support Jim with his "blanket programme" for
the homeless on the railway stations.
St Peter's Mawjrong:
This school is the Christian Brothers first attempt to get involved
with the Khasi people in Megalaya (Assam). These tribal people
are very primitive and have never had an education. The Brothers
not only teach them literacy & numeracy, but also basic
health & hygiene. The Brothers are also teaching them about
crop rotation and other agricultural improvements. This is a
special initiative from the young Indian Brothers and money
from Australia has built two new brick classrooms for this little
school. The Brothers are very very grateful for the efforts
of our boys.
Jagruti School, Mandal,
Gujarat: This school was the Indian Brothers first attempt
to work with village tribal people, as opposed to children in
cities. This school has 60 residential children of whom only
30 are supported by the Gujarat government. (They say they support
tribal people, but they limit it to 30 because it is a Christian
school.) Therefore, the money sent by Trinity provides places
for the extra 30 students to live in the residential hostel.
I need to tell you that these boys are just so aware that their
sponsors are in Perth, Australia, and they are so appreciative.
I was lucky enough to be there for Christmas last year and they
were so proud to be able to say "thankyou" to me!
Trinity also provided one electric fan for each classroom. The
other great news is that of the eleven young men to join the
Christian Brothers last June, 7 of them come from this school!!!!!
