Indeed, what would happen to the little girls abandoned on our streets? They are prey to hunger, dirt, disease and assault and their numbers are appalling.
We are privileged to have created a shelter for these girls, who are brought to us by various civic agencies; we ensure their care, development and the restoration of their dignity with their eventual integration into society. The project is aptly named Divya Prabha - A Ray of Hope.
Divya Prabha at a Ray of Hope for girls abandoned on the streets at first saw the light of day on June 12, 1999 in a small room at Vartak Nagar, Pokhran, Thane, with six little girls. Pulling these children out of a vagrant life, without boundaries, and helping them adjust to a real home was indeed a challenging task.
It was difficult to heal the wounds of a traumatized and deprived existence; we needed to establish trust, understanding, sharing and friendly interaction where earlier the rule of survivals prevailed.
Time and patience have resulted in a model of social outreach which continues to expand. Today, the girls are placed in three houses, Thane, Vasai and Agra. The younger girls reside at Thane and the teenagers live at Vasai in two homes, divided between the school-goers and the older girls.
The seeds of group's now help in the bonding of newcomers, and the ripples of grace are spreading ever wider, ever outwards. The senior-most girls are now gainfully employed and find fulfilment in the work that they do in far ranging areas from beauticians to lawyers and teachers.
At Divya Prabha, our girls are given a sound environment, educated and helped to develop to their fullest so that they can take their rightful place in the world.
Counselling, Recreation, Health & Hygiene, Confidence Building
Food, Clothing, Shelter and Education
Vocational Training, Developing Talent
Counselling, Recreation, Health & Hygiene, Confidence Building
In 2002 when it was started, the ultimate aim was for equal opportunity and dignity for all - this project is the beginning of the fulfillment of that aim. The girls who are brought here are in the age group of 5 to 16 and are usually found abandoned on station platforms or found begging on the streets. Most of them have been targeted by antisocial elements, are victims of malnutrition and disease and /or have been ostracized by their families and community. Some of them are orphans.
In 2024 due to lack of personnel and finances the DWC was informed of the closing the license home of the girls in distress in and starting girls' hostel. Today it is a hostel for girls who are poor and are in need of shelter, protection and education.
Nirmala Niketan Hostel, Aurangabad Hostel has been running for many years. Different people have been helping, and most of the time, the congregation has helped to run the home. For the last three years, we have had sponsors from MCKS. The same group has been sponsoring Marialaya Convent for balwadi and tuition classes, as well as nutrition, since September 2019.
Distributing umbrellas and educating the poor children in the village.
Kingdom Kids, Andheri East
Educating the poor children staying under the bridge". Content - Fr. Gerard (SJ), the parish priest, sought assistance in establishing a small project for the church. Together with the youth of the parish and our novices , a survey was conducted which revealed around 60 children living under the bridge near Bisleri and the cigarette factory.
Fr. Gerard proposed an initiative to bring these children to the church on Saturdays for educational activities.Thus, on August 15, 2015, the "Kingdom Kids" program was inaugurated by Fr. James. A dedicated group of about 15 volunteers, including youth and novices, took on the responsibility of reaching out to these children. They began by providing basic hygiene supplies, encouraging the kids to wash up before engaging in various sessions focused on cleanliness and education.
Each session started with a prayer and included group activities designed to teach valuable life skills.Over the past ten years, these volunteers have consistently taught and supported the children, contributing significantly to their development. The program not only provided education but also offered snacks at the end of each session, fostering a sense of community and care among the participants. The ongoing commitment of the volunteers has made "Kingdom Kids" a proud success story for the parish.
The Poor Sisters Of Our Lady prays for the members of the congregation, lay associates, collaborators and all people of the world. In addition to community prayer, we have a separate prayer time set aside daily, for intentions.
We invite you to send your prayer requests to us for : serious illness, operation/surgery, family, employment, examinations, repose of the soul of a loved one, private personal intention.
