The Ankur project aims to empower the people of Dalit villages to be subjects of their own uplift.
Since the Australian Jesuits first arrived in India 68 years ago, we’ve been serving the most disadvantaged and oppressed people in Hazaribag Province in the northeast region of India. The Dalit villages are especially outcast and marginalised communities in this region.
Vulnerable Dalit people are reliant on systems that trap them in a cycle of poverty. The women particularly suffer greatly from disempowerment. The lack of education means most people in the villages cannot read or write. Caste discrimination is part of everyday life, so many people are not given access to the basic things they need to survive. In many cases, there is a lack of leadership and organisational skills amongst the people to address serious social justice issues at a community level.
The Ankur project confronts these issues to help vulnerable people in the Dalit villages lift themselves out of poverty and disempowerment. The project is led by Australian Jesuit missionary, Fr Tony Herbert SJ in Hazaribag. Fr Tony works with a group of co-workers from the Dalit villages and together they have reached nearly 900 people this year. Together, they are building trusting relationships with families from over 50 villages – with the goal to empower the villagers to become the agents of their own uplift.
By supporting the Ankur project, you are helping marginalised people develop a sense of self-worth, hope, confidence, resilience, autonomy and positive relationships. You’re supporting initiatives to teach practical skills such as leadership and organisational skills, so villagers can conduct community meetings and set up income-generating schemes. Women in the Dalit villages now have opportunities for empowerment through Women’s Savings Groups (WSG) to help them become self-sustaining. With your help, we’re strengthening basic education by setting up education centres in villages with local community members as teachers. You’re also helping village communities overcome social justice issues that directly affect their quality of life, such as caste discrimination, land alienation or the trafficking of women and children.
Some of the Dalit children who now have the opportunity to receive an empowering education.
DONATE“The co-workers in this project are themselves 100% from the Dalit communities - regularly visiting the villages to make trusting relationships both ways. They’re initiating Women’s Savings Groups, then moving onto to deeper issues such as tensions with high castes and land alienation. We feel very much enabled by Jesuit Mission supporters to do this.”
Thank you for supporting the Ankur project. Your support is enhancing the capability of the marginalised Dalit villagers to be subjects of their own uplift – out of poverty and disempowerment towards a life of dignity and freedom.
Deepak's Story
Deepak, is living with a polio-related disability and began teaching Dalit children through the Ankur Project when he was a high school student himself.
"This project is giving more children opportunities to progress in life. I am proud to be a tutor here."
Ankur provides job opportunities for local tutors, like Deepak, who are not only role models for the children in the community, but understand the challenges faced by students and other community members.
In his final year at a college in Tandwa, studying an honours degree in history, Deepak is a beacon of courage and inspiration for his students.
"I find it so rewarding. I think it’s important to demonstrate to the young people in this community that education is a powerful tool to determine their own futures."
Deepak is proud to inspire the next generation to pursue an education.
