Meet the Girls and Boys of Loyola School

In spite of poverty, weather, and societal hardships and a life far different from the United States, the children are thriving. The desire for a good education transcends cultures and geography and we share a hope in the future for Loyola students. St. Alphonsus has become integral to the children’s life in Rerua. Many scholarship donors receive regular communications and pictures. The children’s stories are most compelling and tell how connected we are in spirit and love. Lower school children attend Loyola School in Rerua and upper school children attend Chaira School across the river.


Mayawati Tudu

Mayawati is a 7 year old second grader. Her mother asked for help because her father wanted to send her to work as a domestic.

 












Gumi Tudu

Gumi is an 8 year old third grader. She joined school this year after much persuading. Her parents think, like most in the region, that school is a waste of time for a girl. Her father is a small farmer.

 











Mugli Sabar

Mugli is a 11 year old sixth grader. She is from the Sobars tribe. This tribe cannot own any land and is forced to live under trees in the forest in makeshift huts. Mugli’s father is deceased. Her widowed mother carries firewood for 5 or 6 miles to sell by the roadside. Mugli's mother and siblings go many days without even one meal.

 









Chandramohan Hansdak

Chandramohan is a 9 year old third grader. He has an elder sister, who has no schooling and was recently married off by her parents at age 12. His mother has been sick, off and on, for last two years. The cost of treatment has been overwhelming for his father. Scholarship help for this day student is a great benefit to his family.











Sangeeta Hansdak

Sangeeta is an 12 year old eighth grader who attends Chaira school. She has one brother in school. She was due to be married last year before Father Kongari convinced her family to accept a scholarship for her to attend school.










 


Geeta Hansdak

Geeta is a 11 year old seventh grader. She is the oldest of four children. Geeta’s parents hope and pray that all four of their children can attend school.  They eat only one meal a day in order to save money for school.












Surju Murmu

Surju is in forth grade and is 9 years old. He is the youngest of four children. His father is a daily wage earner, who goes to a forest about four miles from home to cut wood. He sells the wood as firewood in the nearest town, many miles away. Surju’s mother was very seriously ill in 2008 and remains very weak and sickly. It is feared the father has tuberculosis. His whole family is very malnourished.

 

 

 



Aladi Murmu

Aladi is a 14 year old eighth grader who attends Chaira for upper school. She has two younger sisters and one brother. They attend school off and on. Aladi’s parents support their family by selling leaves to make leaf plates.









 


Bhagmat Hembrom

Bhagmat is in second grade and eight years old. He has an elder brother and an elder sister. The sister has left school after completing Class 5. Until last year the family situation was a bit on the better side, but this year both of Bhagmat’s parents have been victims of various health problems and diseases. His father helps Fr. Kongari run Rerua’s Social Service Center as a volunteer.

 

 

 

 

Sundari Soren

Sundari is academically gifted and has gone far in her studies. She is attending medical school in Ranchi. She has one younger sister and one younger brother.  Her mother is a village health worker and her father is unemployed. She will be Loyola School's first doctor!  She is pictured with Father Kongari

 

 

 

 


Sukul Karmakar

Sukul is a 11 year old seventh grader. Her father earns about one dollar a day as a blacksmith. They are often hungry.











 


Hemchandral Besra

Hemchandra is a 10 year old fifth grader. He has an elder brother studying in the fifth grade. His father is very generous in giving his time and service in helping the Rerua mission in many ways. He is a small farmer and has big dreams for his kids. Unfortunately, Hemial’s mother is very sickly and can't do any heavy work. At first we thought she had a heart problem, but many medical tests could not determine her diagnosis.