Sambalpur (Caritas News) -- A team of officials from Caritas Japan visited two tribal hostels that Caritas India has built for tribal children in Badibahal and Pallahara areas in Orissa.
Caritas India supported the establishment of hostels for tribal children located in the areas, where they can reside and attend regular schools. The hostels in Badibahal and Pallahara were built by the Sambalpur Social Service Society. Caritas Japan, a resource-sharing partner of Caritas India extended the financial grant towards this. The five member team from Caritas Japan comprising of Deacon Sadato Yabuki, Team Leader - Fr.Tadashi Machida - Fr.Shigeru Yoshida - Fr.Isao Shimoguchi - Mr.Katsuhiro Kawahara, visited the two village hostels recently. The hostel children welcomed the team with tribal dancing and singing. The team was truly impressed with the tribal dances and songs presented by the hostel children in both the places. “Unlike children in Japan, the children here show greater interest in education” said Mr. Sadato. He further said in his address: “You may acquire any amount of wealth and material but this will never remain. It may be robbed. But if you posses knowledge, this will never be stolen,” Caritas India with its local counterparts is truly empowering the poor and marginalized to emerge as respected individuals in the society, acknowledged the team from Caritas Japan. On their way back, the Caritas Japan officials visited Baruipur and Calcutta Diocesan Social Service Societies. Caritas Japan team were happy to meet the people in several places, who are closely connected through Caritas India and Japan; and to see how their small help is utilized fruitfully for their basic necessities.
