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Volume 26 No. 2 | Winter 2016
Fr Mathew says the building of the hostel had its ups and
downs because of various weather events.
“We were forced to stop the work as the hard Indian
summer was on its way and the only water source dried
up,” he says. “We waited for the monsoon which removed
the harshness of the nature and blessed this time specially
with a regular shower, thus rejuvenating the water
source.”
Despite the challenges posed by the weather, the hostel
was completed as per the government-approved plan
and with all the basic facilities for the children to have a
comfortable stay, with spacious rooms for them to stay,
study and sleep.
“The building is protected with strong wooden doors
and windows, covered with mosquito nets, as well as
a hygienic kitchen and an environment conducive for
promoting health and education,” Fr Mathew says.
“We take this opportunity to express our gratitude and
appreciation to all those who made this venture come
true.
“We express our heartfelt thanks to Divine Word
Missionaries Australia. It is this kind gesture that has
helped us to put up this structure.
“As the new academic year started, students from far
villages began to seek admission at the new hostel and
today we are happy to say we have 45 students admitted
to the hostel and studying at St Anne’s School.”
Fr Mathew says that while the hostel is for boys, the future
for girls in the local area is slowly starting to improve as
more families seek an education for their daughters.
“As per the Indian culture and social taboos, the general
public at large in the villages is not keen to educate their
girl children,” he says. “But the situation is changing now
due to an awakening among the people that without
education, nothing is achievable in life.
“Many parents in the villages are therefore sending their
children to our school with a hope that their future will
be safe and that girl children will command respect in
society.”