Throughout Jesus' life, he was constantly seeking ways to minister to the poor and marginalized. This was the heart of his ministry: to lift up the lowly. 

As Divine Word Missionaries, we seek to emulate Christ by ministering to the poor in our various missions spread across the world. This call is precisely what led us to serve in Odisha.  

Seeking Out the Marginalized in Odisha

Odisha, one of the states served by Divine Word Missionaries India East Province, has a high concentration of people that the Indian government categorizes as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. These terms refer to groups of historically disadvantaged indigenous people who are among India’s most impoverished.

In response to this need, Divine Word Missionaries established Nabajyoti High School in Kerjenga, located in the town of Pallahara. Opened on July 1, 2000, the school was designed at the outset to provide quality education and all-around development for students from this area’s Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Learn more about how Divine Word Missionaries are fighting poverty through education. 

Investing in Tribal Education 

Located in the beautiful foothills of the Malayagiri Mountains, Nabajyoti High School is situated in the midst of tribal populations. The vast majority of our students come from the Scheduled Tribes rather than the Scheduled Classes. Many tribes live in Pallahara, including Bhuyan, Soharo, Juang and Munda.

Predominant among them is the Ho tribe, and it is within the Ho that our pastoral ministry is concentrated. Lessons in the school are conducted in Oria, the official language of Odisha state.

During its 22 years of existence, Nabajyoti High School has grown in stature and built its credibility. It is recognized by local administration and education officials as an ideal school for the area.

Today the school has 422 students—282 boys and 140 girls—in five classes, VI through X. The school prioritizes care for impoverished groups, as only one student of the 422 does not come from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or other weaker sections of the community.

Facilitating an Environment for Learning 

Being a tribal and low-caste stronghold, Pallahara’s environment is not conducive for education even though the families understand the importance of education. The area’s literacy rate is far below the state average, both for men and women. Poverty and underdevelopment of the area are the main causes of illiteracy, along with social ills such as drinking.

To create a productive study atmosphere for the children from this background, the school provides hostel facilities for students—for boys and for girls separately. Today there are 261 boys and 118 girls in the hostels. These students hail from nine districts of Odisha and even a few from the neighboring state of Jharkhand.

 Despite many students' high risk of academic underachievement, the school has produced excellent academic results thanks to the commitment and determination of the staff and management. 

 

For the past five years, Nabajyoti High School boasted a 100 percent passing rate on the High School Certificate examination, demonstrating the school’s academic excellence and quality of instruction.

Prioritizing Learning In and Out of the Classroom

The school also has made its presence felt in extracurricular activities and sports. Students regularly participate and are rewarded at cultural competitions throughout the region.

Students have represented the state at the national level in athletics, field hockey and kabaddi, a popular sport in South Asia that combines wrestling and rugby. Nabajyoti High School is the district’s main school for archery, field hockey, kabaddi and kho kho, which is a competitive form of tag.

Students have also taken interest in the environment. Planting trees is a regular activity that has transformed the barren land into a lush green field. Students attend awareness programs on environmental issues such as waste recycling and the ill effects of the use of plastic.

The school also conducts health awareness programs, with special emphasis on personal health and hygiene. Additionally, sensing the necessity for computer literacy, the school has introduced computer education with a well-equipped lab.

Interested in supporting out missionaries and their work in Odisha through intercessory prayer? Download the Global Church Novena and start praying today! 

Facilitating a Bright Future

 Students’ progress even after they leave school is the joy of the staff. The school is proud of alumni who excel in their lives. While one alumna is training for her doctorate, several other alumni are seeking their diplomas in engineering at Instructional Training Institutes. Some have taken up teaching as a career.

The school has 14 committed teaching and four non-teaching staff. Because the school is not financially self-reliant, the Divine Word Educational Society now bears the financial burden. More donations would be helpful. Due to low pay, the school has experienced high turnover rates among teachers. An enhanced payment plan would ensure continuity of the staff, and a steady staff will certainly promote the school’s growth.

Today, Nabajyoti High School is still in need of several necessary facilities to help their students thrive. The school currently a science lab, library and sports room. There is also a need to increase living space in the hostels, both for boys and girls.

 While living space in the boys’ hostel was originally planned for 150, it currently houses over 260 boys, causing overcrowding and unhygienic living. They are also in desperate need of more beds.
 
Both the school and hostels need additional toilet facilities, especially for girls. Supplying these basic requirements for the school and hostels will help these students from impoverished backgrounds to live in dignity and be proud of their school.

Support a child's future by donating today to Divine Word Missionaries and support vital education efforts at Nabajyoti High School in India as well as across the globe!