“The greatest irony of life is that in giving to others we gain so much more ourselves” – Lahsiv Abbus


‘Sursum Corda’ is the motto of my school and in Latin it means ‘Lift Up Your Hearts’ and this blog today is your chance to lift up yours.

Mungpoo is a small village in Darjeeling district in India. And like most villages it is poor.

The one thing I’ve noticed is that poverty is usually thought to be just the absence of food or heating or fancy clothes or other luxuries. However the biggest effect poverty has, is on Education. No place, leave alone a town or city or country, can prosper in the real sense of the word without proper education.

I, with the grace of God, studied at one of the best schools in the world. St. Joseph’s school popularly referred to as North Point, was established by the Jesuit priests in the Eastern Himalayan resort town of Darjeeling in 1888. Their aim was to form leaders in service. Men and women of competence, conscience and compassionate commitment. It began with an exclusively European student body, thereafter became the institution where among its students were the scions of the ruling houses of the Himalayan kingdoms of Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim.

Run very efficiently by Jesuit priests it offers not just the best in academic learning but also overall development of a child’s personality. The fact that it is about 119 years old and built like a dream doesn’t hurt. (see pic below)

(my school. This is just the front facade. ahem ahem)

Every winter, when the students have gone home for their winter vacations, the school is thrown open to provide free classes to under-privileged kids. As good as that is, kids from villages far far away, like Mungoo cannot come.

So Fr. Van along with volunteers and the local people of Mungpoo have begun building a school in Mungpoo itself.

(school being built at Mungpoo)

Also called St. Joseph's, it is being built entirely out of bamboo, which is treated to make it durable. It is cheaper than concrete and a renewable material. The site is a former cinchona plantation -- quinine is now synthesised, so cinchona bark is no longer needed. It is the first secondary school in the area, and locals have been asking the Jesuits to build them a school for the past 35 years. Fees charged are ludicrously low -- and the school is up and running with three classes, even though construction is incomplete.

However as usual money makes everything go round. Intentions are very noble but 'cash' is required to make it a reality.

This is your opportunity to make a difference to poor but very eager young children.

(students of std 5 in mungpoo school along with Fr. Van and the internationally renowned speaker Phillip Khan-Panni, himself an alumni. Just see how earnest the kids look)

My nephews and nieces are always asking for iPods and Digi Cams but all that these little kids want are books and a place to study. We all give to charity and to temples and churches etc but here is an opportunity to really make a difference and SEE your money make a difference.

If you want to contribute (and the figure needn’t be big) please contact any of the below details..
The details of the school can also be seen at http://www.npmungpoo.org/.

The last verse of my school anthem is;

“Here`s a hand to a faltering brother,
Here's a lift for the lame and the slow,
And we'll stand, boys, like men to each other
As onwards through life we go.”

Make it the anthem of your life.

Sursum Corda

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CONTACTS:
Father Van at gvanwall@yahoo.com or
Andre Lefevre

Alumni Office

St. Joseph's College

School Department

P.O. Singamari

Darjeeling 734104

West Bengal

India


email: npalumni@rediffmail.com


phone: 91-354-2270205

91-354-2270377