My first visit to the South India State of Kerala in November 2001 proved a memorable experience in very many ways. Kerala is roughly 25% Christian and has a higher than average Indian literacy rate but, like many parts of this huge country of over a billion population, Kerala is a place of great contrasts. Many very wealthy families contrast with a large number of very poor families and one of my treasured memories was being taken by my Moslem auto-rickshaw driver to a charity run by Sister Rose and her nine dedicated helpers. I went to buy some hand-made cards produced by the children there but the Cheru Resmi Centre, set up by St Roaches Convent, was doing so much that I stayed a long while finding out about its involvement in their very poor environment and paid a second visit the following week.

This charitable organisation started in 1983 to reach out to over 5000 children, young people, men, women and older persons belonging to a fishing community, one of the lowest classes in India’s social structure. Children of unmarried mothers, widows, prostitutes and others of single parentage living in slum properties are very much neglected. When the Sisters began their work in the village, the men would go to sea early morning and the mothers left to sell fish or engage in illicit liquor brewing. Older girls were kept at home to look after the small ones and would assist in the household occupations. Older boys became full-time workers toiling in hazardous and exploitative forms of child labour. Those who attended school were not able to continue their studies or do their homework at home as the huts are very small with neither electricity nor sanitary facilities. Since the Sisters have lived and worked in the community, building up relations with the villagers, many of the former situations have improved greatly. The CRC provides simple facilities for 125 school going children to study from 6am-8am (before school) and from 6pm- 9pm, after having attended school and also having helped their families in tasks such as washing, cleaning, fetching water and shopping. The link with the family is maintained so that families take responsibility in the children’s education and upbringing. Pre- school children have morning sessions from 9am until noon. Regular meetings between the CRC and parents enhance the community participation in the running of the centre.

The women also receive training in domestic skills- cooking, sewing and household maintenance- and the CRC has recently undertaken a housing project to provide properly built houses, with adequate sanitation facilities. These would stop the rampant pollution of the coastal areas and provide a clean environment for healthy living as well as providing privacy so that the children have a better environment for their studies, thereby improving their employment prospects to lift their families out of the poverty trap. If, through sponsorship, the CRC can provide 10,000 rupees (about £150), the Government will provide the remaining cost for building the concrete houses, thus replacing the dilapidated palm-thatched, rickety huts in which, at present, the families live.

Yet another part of the remarkable work being undertake by the Sisters is operating an "Adopt-a-Granny" scheme which is financed by sponsors from other countries. Funds are needed for all the splendid projects that are being undertaken in Christ’s name.

If you would like to know more about any of the projects mentioned, please contact the Editor of EDGES.