Stories from Prathyasha Bhavan (Home of Hope)
There are so, so many stories to tell you about our girls, their life before, their life with us, and their life after being with us. Here are just three stories:
 Reena, who is six years old, was brought to us on 13th July 2005. She and her mother, a mental patient, came to Kerala from Bhopal and had a very difficult time surviving. Reena fell into the hands of the beggar mafia, one of which blinded her left eye and severely damaged her right eye by poking a darning needle into them. This was to make her a "better" beggar. We took her to the eye hospital, but they weren't able to do much due to the damage done to her eye nerves. Even with what has happened, and her limited vision, Reena is now a happy child at Prathyasha Bhavan (Home of Hope) She is in class two, speaks Hindi fluently, and has become friendly with the Sisters. She is a delight to us all.
 Mahalakshmi arrived here on 11th of June 2005 accompanied by a staff member of CHILDLINE, who had found her at the Ernakulam City Railway station, standing alone bewildered not knowing where to go. She had become lost, begging with her mother. Reaching us, we gave her a good bath put on clean clothes, and served her a healthy lunch. She immediately appeared different and felt happy. But the second day, she ran off and the police brought her as she was standing at the bus stop, begging. Sr. Lorencia took special care of the child tried to teach her Malayalam Alphabet, but her one aim was to go on begging.
Mahalakshmi formed a strong bond with Sr. Lorencia, who she called "Ammachi". The relationship grew so strong that she actually asked sister accompany her for begging, promising to share what they could beg and even some "Indian made foreign liquor". Sr. Lorencia patiently talked with her and succeeded in convincing her that she should give up begging and become a teacher instead. We got uniforms for Mahalakshmi and now she is a regular student of SVD primary school in Std. II. Everyday she gets blessings from her "Ammachi", giving her a loving kiss, happy as ever.
Nirmala, 14, Vimala, 10, and Kamala 7 (Not the real names) are the love children of parents for whom disagreements and fights were a regular feature. The father was addicted to liquor and every night he would come home fully drunk, ill-treating his wife and the three daughters, beating them, kicking and physically harassing and abusing them in different forms. Life was so bad, the mother could not bear it anymore; she wanted to commit suicide with her daughters. But some good friends advised her to go to the police station and ask for protection, and the police brought them to us That was at 11 p.m. on 1st May, 1996. We took in the girls and found work for their mother as a housemaid.
Nirmala often recollects the days spent at home. When they heard the footsteps of the father they would hide in some corner, even outside their house and only when he had become quiet, they would come inside the house, and sleep, sometimes just for one or two hours. They grew up in fear and insecurity. She often repeats that only the mercy of God brought them to Prathyasha Bhavan (Home of Hope).
Nirmala was admitted in Std. IX and SDPY girls school Palluruthy. Being an intelligent and good girl, she was loved by her teachers and classmates. She was very good in dancing, singing, speeches and had obtained several prizes in the two years at school. She also is a born leader and very helpful to the little ones of Prathyasha Bhavan. In the absence of the sisters, she used to take care of the younger girls and follow them in their studies, duties and recreation. She had a loving approach to each girl of Prathyasha Bhavan (Home of Hope). They in turn obeyed and loved her. She was the center of all activities. She obtained a diploma in secretarial practice at Auxilium Centre and went on to Andra Pradesh for her Junior college. She successfully completed the course and became very fluent in English. She has been employed as a receptionist and accountant and, in her free time, attended computer classes and took a course in commerce. She is very efficient, hard working, ambitious and pleasant. She is cordial with all and is respected and loved by her co-workers. She grabs all the opportunities to come up in life and brings her sisters to a better position.
Her sister Vimala also completed her Office Management course at Auxilium Centre after her Plus II. Vimala also got a job as computer operator. Eventually all three of the sisters were working and they were able to move out from Prathyasha Bhavan (Home of Hope) in 2003 and live in a small rented house. At present the mother and 3 daughters live very happily together.
Nirmala acknowledges and admits lovingly that what she is today is due to the loving care of the Salesian Sisters. She attributes her success in life to the spirit of prayer she learned, and the unlimited trust in God, which she had inculcated during eight years with the Sisters. She maintains affectionate relationship with the Salesian Sisters. Quite a few girls have obtained jobs through the information that she handed down.
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