Next to a Social Center, the Novitiate house is here since 2002
The community of Sherpur is embedded in a large and densely populated village. The inhabitants are mostly Dalits and members of different of castes. The majority are settlers, who had lost their property after the big erosion on the other side of the river Ganges. The people are landless farmers and victims of suppression.
On the banks of the river Ganges, there are hundreds of brick banks. For many, this is an opportunity to work and earn money. Adjacent to the novitiate house (the place of formation for the young sisters), there is a Social Center to improve the socio-economic situation of the Dalits, and is a significant pointer to the important option of our founder. The young women who are preparing themselves for religious life, are in the midst of the poor and oppressed – this is the reality, for which open eyes and open hearts are needed.
The social programs, helped by many kinds of self-help groups, are mostly at the service of empowerment of women. Side by side with this, there are programs for children, e.g. coaching for poor children and Dalits. Young people get support for their professional life, e.g. Non formal learning, possibilities to learn computer, tailoring etc.
In the neighboring villages and settlements, there are Legal Aid centres where awareness-building for adults are developed and accompanied. In 13 village schools, Maha-Dalit children who do not go to regular schools, are taught. The sisters are confronted with many difficulties. Still, they aim at a time when people, in spite of their many differences, will be able to live together in a dignified way in dialogue, in peace and harmony.
