From Students
Padmavathi's story
“After finishing my studies in 8th standard in Kapepaladi School, I told my desire to my parents that I want to continue my studies in Loyola School, Manvi. My parents agreed to my wish and made me part of Loyola School.
But unfortunately, because of lockdown I was not able to come to school. But we were having online classes for two months. I faced a lot of difficulties during these two months of online classes because poor network problems and other disturbances at home.
After two months the school was reopened. I was very excited to see my new friends and teachers. Initially I felt very nervous and anxious to speak and to be comfortable with teachers and friends. For a few days I was not able to cover the syllabus that was taught online but with the guidance of teachers and friends I grabbed all the knowledge that was taught during online classes.
After one month the unit test was conducted and I did very well. There were so many competitions that were conducted in our class. And I want to become a topper. With lots of efforts and hard work, I became second topper of the class at the end of the academic year.
I feel immensely grateful to God for blessing me with the schools that I have been fortunate to study. I thank in a special way my Dinah and my sponsor parent who are an inspiration to me to work hard and come up in life. I am grateful to all the benefactors who help us to have a bright future. I want to do well in the coming board exams and bring honour to my school and to everyone who continue to support me. I feel deeply privileged to be part of Loyola School.”
Former student Noble Raj’s story
Once upon a time I was a cow boy grazing the cattle in the green fields.I was a stranger to the alphabet and I was a loner in the world of the rich - working for a landlord and not at all free.
Then one fine day I met 2 great humans called Fr Eric and Fr Maxim who enrolled me to the Loyola school at Manvi, directly into 6th standard. Iwas staying in the hostel, and there I met a mother from another land, that’s Dinah, and Peter and their family, who showed me the way for my life and who really gave their days for my future. Thus I was helped by Dinah and family ever year at Loyola school in Manvi, and I got sponsor from them for my education until my M.Com studies. This has helped me a lot to be a better and great human.
At present I am doing job as Commerce lecturer in the College, it’s all because of Dinah and family. I am very grateful for their kind heart and support towards me, not only for financial support but also for supporting my family. Today my position as lecturer is the fruit of their support and guide towards my life.
I would also like to join in contribution towards the poor and needy.
Thank you
NobleRaj
These photos show Noble Raj and his family during the last few years.
Navya's Story
Navya is 22, her sister Divya is 20. Both girls were in the first group of students that Fr. Eric and Fr. Maxim enrolled at their newly founded Loyola School in 2004.
Their story begins with tragedy and turmoil which is far too common for Dalit families. Navya and Divya’s father committed suicide when they were 8 and 6 years old because he was financially cheated by his landlord. He felt so desperate that he poisoned himself on a train. Shocked and desperate, Navya, Divya and their mother went to live with their grandmother in a village with a small school with just one room and one teacher.
Father Eric and Father Maxim, founders of the Pannur Manvi Mission, visited this village and instantly noticed how bright both girls were. They subsequently invited them to join their school and soon afterwards, Navya and Divya’s education in English medium began. Fr. Maxim is an excellent English teacher and Navya can now speak English ‘boldly, without fear’. Their daily schedule at school was very tough, so tough that Navya would sometimes fall asleep in class and Fr. Maxim would ask her to go and wash her face! ‘We would end the class with discussions about politics; the teachers liked our batch (year group)’, Navya recalls.
Navya’s Sixth Form ended with disappointment however. She regularly worked until 1 a.m. but sometimes exams were postponed because the papers were late arriving at the College. Navya wanted to become a doctor but her results at the end of PUII (Upper Sixth) were second class instead of first class, so this option was no longer available to her. She then decided to do Engineering and apply for a government loan for the fees. Only one government loan could be offered to this family based on the value of the piece of land the family owns. Navya knew that Divya had always wanted to read Civil Engineering and for this she would need a government loan, so she decided to sacrifice her own ambition and let Divya take the loan and the seat at Hassan University. Divya is an exceptionally gifted girl, she was the brightest student at University and also a first class cricketer!
Navya decided to stay on at Loyola College and read Science. This is the most challenging subject as it is taught in English rather than the local language that other Degree courses are taken in. Throughout her Degree Navya would regularly achieve over 75% in class tests and external exams. When she had graduated, Navya decided to take a year out and teach at Loyola school. With all the financial and moral support she had received since she was 10 years old at Loyola school and College, she wanted to give something back to the school. She especially enjoyed becoming a colleague to her teachers after many years of being taught by them.
Navya was then supported to do a Master’s Degree in Food and Technology at a University in Mangalore. Her ambitions at that time were totally selfless - the first being to establish a food industry in Manvi and employ local people as there are currently no food industries there. Her second dream is more humbling, ‘I have another dream that I want to have my own orphanage so I will have to adopt some of the children. I want to make them not just good in studies, but good in sports and good in cultural activities.’
Whilst the practical need to find a job after her Master's Degree has put her ambitions of several years earlier on hold for now, we have no doubt that Navya will achieve both her ambitions, she is a determined and courageous young person who has put others first all her life. She is an inspiration to those who meet her. Navya is now working as a University Lecturer at a College in Mangalore.
The photos on the left are specifically of Navya - others are general photos.
Hanumanthi and Husenamma, two former students from Loyola School Manvi, started in 2014 at Nursing college 500 kms from Manvi. They both managed to get a Government seat at their college, and are enjoying their nursing training immensely.
Samadeni, a former pupil of Loyola School in Manvi, started Nursing college in 2014 in Mangalore. We remember Samadeni arguing vehemently with Father Eric back in 2009, who, tongue in cheek asked her why should girls be educated at all, surely they should look after the home? "Why should girls wash the vessels and not study like boys?' she quickly replied, having learnt English for only one year at that stage - the passion for education this young girl displayed all these years ago was so strong. The Nursing College is paying Samadeni a small monthly salary even though she is still training, and from this salary she sends what she can afford back to help her parents, and also 200 Rupees per month to Father Eric to contribute towards another Dalit child's education.
These are general photos and not specific to these two students.
