HIGHER EDUCATION FUND

The Late Fr Felix Rebello, parish priest, was instrumental in initiating the ‘HIGHER EDUCATION FUND’ for marginalized students and youth of the parish in the year 2015-16

The present parish team comprising of Fr Xavier Pinto & Fr Daniel Fernandes are very keen to see that the youth get the right opportunities to excel in life and that financial constraints are not roadblocks in their career development.

We would like to produce an interview with the Late Fr Felix Rebello and explain the background of this FUND and how it works.

1] What made you to start the higher education fund scheme?

In July, 2015, during my first year at Infant Jesus church. Jogeshwari, a student, son of our school peon approached me for some financial help from the church for his second year engineering. As the family has meager income, it was difficult for that family to pay the full fees. So the Church helped whatever it could, but that was not sufficient. Later on I was given to understand that, that family borrowed the balance amount from a private moneylender at the rate of 2% monthly interest (24% p.a.). When I shared this incident with some of the parishioners, I was told that this is the common practice amongst poor families of this parish.

2] Weren’t such families helped by the parish in the past before launching this FUND?

Yes, a few have been helped here and there in a small way. But there wasn’t a permanent FUND like ‘Higher Education Fund’.

3] What concrete steps you took to launch the ‘Higher Education’ Fund?

As a first step, suggestions were asked from some of the individuals and parish groups. One of the suggestions proposed was to start an “Higher Education Fund.” This fund can be started by appealing help from parishioners and other donors. During the first year (2015-16) it was decided to send appeals and create a fund, and from the second year (2016-17), to start disbursing help to the higher education for the poor students.

4] How was the response from the parishioners and other donors?

An appeal newsletter “Helping Hands” was sent to all the parish families and prospective donors outside the parish explaining why our parish needs a FUND like “Higher Education Fund”. There was an encouraging response from the donors. An amount of more than 10 lacs was collected in the first year itself.

5] Was this amount deposited in a separate account or in the parish account?

To avoid multiplying account heads, the amount was deposited in the usual ‘Infant Jesus Trust a/c. However, to keep a track of this FUND, separate register is being maintained.

6] What are the eligibility criteria to sanction help to poor students?

There are students whose parents have ordinary jobs who manage their routine expenses. But when it comes to higher education, they find it difficult as they do not have enough savings. Due to this, they hesitate to admit their children for higher education even if their children perform well in their academic career. Such students/families are eligible to apply for Higher education help”.

7] During the first year of operation of this fund, students from which streams of higher education were helped?

In the first academic year (2016-17), five students were helped by paying their part or full fee of higher education courses like Engineering, Hotel Management, Nursing, D’Ed etc. amounting to about 60,000/- up to a lac each.

8] How does this FUND works?

After confirming their admission for that particular course, the student approaches the parish priest. As most of the students/families are known, there is no need of too much probing about the financial situation of the family. Then the student fills a simple form with necessary details. Whatever the amount family can afford to pay, they promise to pay. The balance amount – full or part of the fees is paid by the church from the “Higher Education Fund”.

9] Is this amount given as refundable or non-refundable help?

As mentioned earlier, some of the families can manage to pay the fees if it is small. But when it comes to big amounts like a lac or two, they find it difficult to pay at one go. Therefore, “Higher Education Fund” helps them in their immediate need. The student/family gives a simple undertaking that, they will refund this amount in small installments in the form of donations. By the end of the year or two, they may have cleared the full amount.

10] How does the family benefits?

As mentioned before, the “Higher Education Fund” helps for the immediate need of the family. So the family is happy that, they could get admission in institutions and also a kind of interest free loan without any hassles, besides saving a lot from paying interest if they had to borrow this amount from the banks or private lenders.

11] Do you think all the beneficiaries would be prompt and honest in refunding the help given to them?

This question is surely relevant. However a lot depends on  trust. St Teresa of Kolkotta’s famous quote can very much applied in this case. “If we judge people, you have no time to love them”. Therefore, in good faith, church lends. I am sure, as a sign of gratitude, the students will be prompt and honest in refunding the amount they received from the church. Perhaps, they may even be the generous benefactors of this fund when they start earning.

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” – Mother Teresa

12] Has this project has the approval of the church higher authorities, Cardinal, Bishops etc?

As this project is part of the objectives of the trust, there is no need of any special approval. However, in response to the HELPING HANDS Newsletter on this project, Cardinal Oswald Gracias has written his encouraging words. I quote – “in the last issue of the HELPING HANDS bulletin, I was delighted to read about the parish helping five deserving students for higher education. I was very happy with this initiative. Congratulations! Keep it up!” (Cardinal Oswald’s letter addressed to me dated October 28, 2016).

13] Do you think this kind scheme is feasible in other parishes?

I believe that, when we take up any project for poor and marginalised, people always support it because they firmly believe in the words of Jesus “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me”. (Mattew 25:40).

I feel if we can build new churches and other institutions spending in some crores, will not parishes be able to raise a few lacs for this noble cause? I believe every parish must have such arrangements.

I would like to conclude with the following quote of Pope Francis.

NONE OF US CAN THINK WE ARE EXEMPT FROM CONCERNS FOR THE

POOR AND FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE – POPE FRANCIS

Thank you Fr Felix Rebello for the “HIGHER EDUCATION FUND” that you initiated in 2015 -16. I must say in all conviction that a lot of students and youth have benefitted over the years and have now become professional’s thanks for the VISION you had.

Dear Friends, parishioners/ benefactors, we are keen to continue the “HIGHER EDUCATION FUND” as we believe that it is only through education one can come up in life and excel.

We make efforts to help our youth as much as we can. However due to financial constraints we struggle and therefore we appeal to your generosity to help us financially in our endeavor to help our parish youth excel and complete their further studies.

Cheques may be drawn in favour of “INFANT JESUS CHURCH” with relevant details like Pan Card No, postal address and cell no.

May Infant Jesus bless you and your family.

Fr XAVIER PINTO                                                                                                                                                                                      Fr DANIEL FERNANDES

PARISH PRIEST                                                                                                                                                                                          ASTT PARISH PRIEST