Honouring and empowering motherhood

On Mother's Day this month we celebrated the incredible mothers in our lives. We honoured all mothers in our world, especially those like Leela in India.

"When my daughter was three years old, she was malnourished and weighed only eight kilograms,” recalls Leela, Anika’s mother.

"But now she weighs over ten kilograms and stands tall. It fills my heart with joy to see her thriving,” says Leela.

Leela, a mother of six, embodies the spirit of resilience in the face of adversity. Her husband works nearly 600km away in Goa, India, farming and gardening, while she takes on casual labour jobs in their village to make ends meet.

Despite their challenges, Leela remains steadfast in her commitment to providing a better life for her children.

In 2023, Jesuit Mission’s Sustainable Development of Indigenous Tribal Populations program, supported over 1,300 Indigenous tribal people, including Leela, in education, addressing malnutrition and empowering women through self-help groups to advocate for their rights.

These resilient mothers are becoming educated on nutrition and are working with the community childcare centre (Angawadi) to claim food from the government, such as milk and eggs.

"This fantastic program also encourages mothers to grow vegetables together and contribute to the well-being of the whole community,” says Helen Forde, CEO of Jesuit Mission.

Run by North Karnataka Jesuit Educational and Charitable Society, and supported by Jesuit Mission, the maternal health centre attended by Leela is providing transformative assistance to her and her family’s health.    

"At three years old, Anika was fragile, but I refused to give up hope. I became determined to ensure her well-being and happiness," says Leela.

Leela’s story echoes the experiences of countless mothers around the world who face adversity with courage and resilience. Despite the challenges they encounter, they remain steadfast in their commitment to nurturing and protecting their children.

Through Jesuit Mission’s Gifts for Change program, you can honour the sacrifices, strength and love of mothers like Leela by investing in initiatives that empower families and communities.

"Every child should have the right to a quality education. I want Anika to study more, to be independent."

Click here to support our Gifts for Change program and make meaningful impact in the lives of families around the world.