The Day of the Poor among the children of a Mumbai slum
In communion with Churches around the world, the event was promoted by the Norbertine-run centre that offers dignity and new opportunities through self-help groups to women living in disadvantaged areas. For its director, Father Moses, “Empowerment is not a gift; it is the fundamental right to agency, and our role is simply to clear the path.”
Mumbai (AsiaNews) – The Bandra East Community Centre (BECC) yesterday held a celebration with children to mark the Catholic Church’s World Day of the Poor and India’s Children’s Day, which fell on Friday.
The Norbertine Fathers founded the centre in 1974 to promote the socioeconomic development of slum dwellers and homeless people living on the sidewalks, offering its services regardless of caste, creed, or religion.
Lunch was provided to all participants, and food kits were distributed to poor families and the elderly as a show of support and care. Some 60 children, 35 women, 25 elderly people, as well as 12 staff members gathered with great enthusiasm and joy.
The event featured a variety of fun games, both inside and outside, and included cultural performances, with a dance by students from the tailoring course and the awarding of diplomas to students who successfully completed the computer science course.
The “narrow, winding lanes of those communities where BECC serves are often perceived as places of despair. Yet, when I look out from this desk, I don't see mere statistics of poverty; I see a vibrant, resilient, and utterly untapped human potential,” said BECC director Fr Antony Moses, speaking to AsiaNews. “This is the perspective that fuels our work in BECC,” he added. “We believe that true, lasting change isn't a grant delivered but a spark ignited within the community itself.”
The slums where the BECC operates are also home to teenage girls who have dropped out of school and have no source of income. Sewing classes have been available since 1988, helping students acquire skills and find employment.
The Mahila Mandal is another initiative. Through self-help microfinance, it promotes community development among women who come together to save regularly, access small loans, and support each other in income-generating activities.
The Crèche Project addresses the needs of domestic workers and single parents by providing their children with a kindergarten. There are also computer science courses, remedial classes for children whose families cannot afford school fees, and financial support for families in difficulty.
Another project, launched in 1994, currently cares for 75 elderly people, aged 65 to 85, who were living in situations of neglect and have now regained their dignity.
This is not “a scattered approach; it is a holistic recognition that the fate of each group is inextricably linked,” Fr Moses explained.
“The education we provide to the children is amplified when their mother, now skilled and earning, can invest in their future. The respect we restore to a senior citizen provides stability and wisdom for the entire family unit.
“The foundational truth is this: Empowerment is not a gift; it is the fundamental right to agency, and our role is simply to clear the path.”
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