Breaking Barriers

IN THE CROWDED northern Indian city of Patna, a new hostel has quietly opened its doors. Nestled behind a modest mission house, it offers refuge to some of the region’s most vulnerable children: tribal girls and school dropouts, aged between 10 and 18, who have long been excluded from education and opportunity. “This hostel will enable their reintegration into formal education systems and ensure a bright future for the marginalized girls,” says Sr. Sahayarani CIC (Congregation of the Immaculate Conception), Regional Superior of the Patna Region and project supervisor.

Many of the girls who will benefit come from remote areas of Bihar and Jharkhand, two of the most economically disadvantaged states in India. Families here often survive through subsistence farming or informal labor, and when resources are tight, it is usually daughters who are pulled from school first. If a girl is needed to work in the fields or care for siblings, her education stops. Some become child laborers and domestic servants. Some are even forced into early marriage. “Our aim is to break the cycle of poverty to achieve the girls’ full potential,” says Sr. Sahayarani. “It is to create lasting change and ensure the well-being and rights of the girls.”

Ambitious plan

The Sisters of the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception have been working in the region since 1986, when they were first invited by the Bishop of Muzaffarpur. Founded in Tamil Nadu in 1899, the CIC Sisters dedicate themselves to serving the poor, especially in rural and underserved communities. Their mission house in Patna, Nirmal Niwas, was established in 1998, and has since functioned as the base for their northern mission. But for 25 years, the land behind the mission house remained unused. Ahead of the house’s silver jubilee in 2023, the Sisters decided to transform that space into something with lasting purpose.

The plan was ambitious: to construct a new hostel on the small plot behind the existing mission house, with the aim of reintegrating marginalized girls into the education system, and offering them a safe, stable place to live and grow. Each floor would serve a specific function. The ground floor would provide accommodation for the warden and support staff, along with toilets and a connecting corridor to the mission house. The first and second floors would be used as dormitories for the girls, while the top floor would house a kitchen and dining hall. The girls, who had previously been housed informally by the Sisters in various rural outposts, would now have a central base from which to attend a nearby school and receive supplementary support.

Three phases

The total cost of construction came to €94,000. Of this, the Sisters themselves contributed €39,000, and an additional €22,000 was raised from other benefactors. St. Anthony’s Charities (Caritas sant’Antonio) was asked to provide the remaining €33,000. With funds partially in hand, construction began in April 2024 – even before the final instalments had been secured. It was a long-cherished dream of the Sisters, and they were eager to complete the building ahead of their General Chapter in May 2025 and were determined not to delay.

Work proceeded in three main phases. By September 2024, the first floor had reached lintel level. The roof was cast in November, following a short blessing ceremony. Structural work on the second and third floors took place between December and March. Despite setbacks including delays during state festivals, seasonal sickness among workers, Sr. Sahayarani’s illness with dengue, bank delays, and interruptions caused by heavy winter, the Sisters managed each stage with discipline and care.

Interior works followed swiftly: plastering, plumbing, window and door fittings, tiling, electrification, painting. Construction materials were purchased in bulk, and labor costs were tracked with transparency. Where possible, local laborers were hired, and surplus furniture was gathered from other CIC houses. The building was finally completed in April 2025 and inaugurated on the 26th of the month. Though the Bishop of Muzaffarpur was unable to attend – the date coincided with the funeral of Pope Francis – the blessing was carried out by Fr. Isidore, Director of the Regional Pastoral Centre.

Girls have now begun arriving from remote villages where access to education is minimal or non-existent. Others have transferred from temporary housing with CIC Sisters in towns like Daltonganj and Karon. These include districts such as Palamu, Latehar, Lohardaga, Garwa, and Gumla in Jharkhand, and Gaya and Rohtas in Bihar. These girls will receive education as well as counseling and support services to help and address any underlying reasons for dropping out of school. They will also be empowered with necessary life skills and vocational training, and will join in spiritual activities at the Mission House. The families of the girls have also been relieved of economic pressure and assured of their daughters’ safety. “We have no plan of collecting any money from the girls,” says Sr. Sahayarani. “These children are already poor and downtrodden. They will be supported by the Congregation as one of our mission services.”

A bright future

Among the first residents is Rupa Kumari, a tribal girl from Chipadhohar in the Latehar District. “Continuing my education was a big question mark due to the poverty of my family,” she says. “My parents stopped me from going to school so I could work in the field. I am so happy to have a beautiful hostel at Nirmal Niwas, Patna. I thank you for your kindness and support.”

Tejeswi Kumari, from the Palamu District, shares a similar story. “I was forced to drop out of school due to the financial constraints of my family,” she says. “Now, I can continue my education. I am proud to be a part of this hostel. I can grow and develop myself to build a bright future.”

Sr. Sahayarani concludes with thanks to all those who made the project possible. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to St. Anthony’s Charities and the readers of the Messenger of Saint Anthony for the trust and support for this initiative. Your contribution has made a tangible difference in the lives of these children, and we are confident that this investment will yield long-term benefits for the community.”