You've got to give a little

In November 2007, St. Peters Colony zone came together to raise funds for our parish mission station at Ashagad through a FUN ‘N FROLIC event called “TAM-ASHA” held on our colony lawns.

A little information for those who don’t know about our Church Mission Station at Ashagad…
Ashagad Mission was started in 1967 by Fr. Stanny Miranda S.J. for the Warli tribals. Ashagad is 7 kms from Dahanu but the area covered by the Mission extends over the 3 talukas of Dahanu, Vikramgad & Jawahar. The furthest Mission Centre is Karhe village 60 Kms up in the Western Ghats. In 1996, the Mission started Loyola Ashram School at Nagzari and Jeevandhara Ashram School at Ashagad itself.
420 Warli children, boys and girls, reside and study at Loyola Ashram School. 150 more children from the nearby villages attend as day scholars.
Jeevandhara Ashram School is only for Adivasi girls. There are 320 girls residing and studying here.

As the villagers cannot afford full education for their children, it has to be provided FREE. Fortunately, under the ashram school system of the government, the staff salaries and food requirements are completely paid for by the government. The Mission has to provide for the rest – expenses for uniforms, casual wear, toiletry, bedding, text books, note books and other stationery required by each child. The Mission depends on donations from well-wishers and friends.

St. Peters Colony zone went all out to make Tam-Asha an exciting event that generated generous funds for the Ashagad Mission. It was truly a COMMUNITY endeavour with members participating in the various activities.

Tam-Asha was a big success. The peppy music had everyone tapping their toes. The artistic ones pitched in to make handicraft items which were a big hit at the mela, those who were culinary magicians made delicious snacks that were sold out in no time, some used their green thumbs and grew beautiful plants that were bought and have since added to the greenery in the colony and of course the generous donations from residents as well as those colony members who have moved to other parts of the world far exceeded our target.

Fr. Aloysius Murzello and Fr. Gerard Rodricks were kind enough to take time out of their busy schedules and join us.

Later in the month, a few of us visited Ashagad and handed over the money as well as some items like hockey sticks, books, lamp-shades for the Chapel, etc. Fr. Blaise showed us around the school and we were really touched by the well-mannered, sharing and joyful attitude of the children.

This out-reach programme really brought home how we who have been blessed with so much have to only “give a little” to make the world a happier place.

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