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“Keep your heart open to dreams. For as long as there’s a dream, there is hope, and as long as there is hope, there is joy in living.” Anon
A dream, a hope and a joy in living are all abundant at Loyola School: a school that is being built to provide an education for Dalit children in Karnataka, Southern India. The dreams for this project are in no way limited. In 2004 work began on the building of a primary school for the Dalit children near the village of Manvi.
Now the Loyola School community and Wimbledon College have set their sights on building a secondary school and maybe even a university!
Recently, I met Sharon Wheatley, the head of Chaplaincy at Wimbledon College who sparkled as she told me about the school’s most recent trip to India. Sharon and a group of boys started going out to India during the summer in 2003. Since then she has been every year and has been able to see the transformation. For example, Sharon told me about one little girl who used to have dull skin and was suffering from the effects of malnutrition and who is now glowing with health.
The Wimbledon College boys, when they go out to India, spend a month there getting to know the community and helping in whatever way they can, whether it be digging holes or carrying bricks to assist with the new building. Some of the boys so enjoy their time they try to go back the following year. This is not an easy feat as every boy has to fundraise to pay for the trip and accommodation.
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Jesuit Missions
Loyola School