Testimonials

An Eye-Opening Experience: My Journey with KMWSC

I have been a student of Loreto College St. Stephen’s Green for almost five years now. From the very start, we were taught of Mary Ward’s values of truth, justice, sincerety, freedion and joy and the belief that the action of helping others is highly noble. Throughout my short immersion experience in Kolkata, it was these values I tried my best to keep at the core of my heart and guide me through. Our fast interaction with the Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre really opened my eyes to their tireless work and dedication in multiple projects., and how they put 100% effort into everything they do. They organised us a schedule visiting numerous different places, each different from the other, each one a new perspective. From the Loreto Schools, which in my opinion, felt like turning a corner in my own school batch in Dublin, sharing the same atmosphere of friendship, laughter and togetherness. To the M.A.C.S., where I was overwhelmed by the joy and family of the children and to the Brickfields where my eyes were truly opened to the lives who are forgotten. This truly has been an experience of a lifetime giving me memories, hope and inspiration I will cherish forever.

 – Amelia Jane Lawrie

Sudent

Loreto St. Stephens Green,

Dublin, Ireland

A Transformative Journey: My Experience with KMWSC

My experience with the KMWSC has been nothing short of life changing. We visited the MACs, the Loreto Schools, St. Vincent School, the Brickfields and learned so many things about the work of the centre. Every member of the KMWSC team has welcomed us with open arms just as they welcome those in their community who are most in need. Their goodness and warmth is felt wholly in everythinh they do, from bringing school to brickfield sites to support the migrant worker and their children to the many educational, vocational and awareness campaigns. The KMWSC exemplifies the truth in statement that a small group of dedicated people can change the world. They don’t just give and donate, they change hearts and minds, they change lives for better. I know that seeing first-hand the work they do, has certainly changed mine.

 – Amelia O Powell

Sudent

Loreto St. Stephens Green,

Dublin, Ireland

A Life-Changing Experience: Learning and Growing with KMWSC

My experience from my week at KMWSC has been truly eye opening, wonderful and mind changing. I really, genuinely, enjoyed every single aspect, opportunity and challenge it gave me. Coming from a country or area in which poverty is not a big issue in, this was quite different. The programme that the KMWSC setup to give us insight into the work they do, the poverty in Kolkata and also a different culture was incredible. I found many new things about how I should be spending my time, money and thoughts on different aspects of life. This experience allowed me to reflect all these aspects. As well as this I really loved the mission and ethos that the KMWSC embodies. They cherish the Loreto values very close to their community which I believe is very important. Over this week I have also found that I, myself must follow and keep in mind these values throughout my life. The work and effort that the KMWSC does is truly admirable. I feel very inspired by the centre to do my own work or something similar later in my life. I’ve also realised to love one another and even your enemies as they can be your motivation! Even though some areas were difficult to deal with emotionally and mentally it has taught me how I should apply this into my life. I should really use my natural resources and my education to one fullest as I am so likely to have the opportunities in my life. I also notice how the KMWSC never leaves anyone unnoticed, no person left ton their own. The centre runs so many different projects that help so many people. Their commitment to projects is very inspiring. May I grow older and am able to make my own decision, I hope to come back to Kolkata and work with KMWSC as I have never felt such a joy, happiness, gratitude and justice in my life. They have inspired me to use my life and education to the fullest. I believe by helping others that is how I can achieve this.

 – Anna Doherty

Sudent

Loreto St. Stephens Green,

Dublin, Ireland

“Reflecting on My Internship Experience at Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre

My name is Medha Veronica Thakur, a student of St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata.  I started working as an Intern on 22^nd July, 2024, and have been on a learning experience since. Firstly, I would like to thank everyone at the Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre for being so patient with me and helping me whenever I needed it. This experience would not have been as smooth as it was without their help.

To speak of my experience here, it was emotional full of learning and making meaningful connections.

I learnt how to analyse survey data and prepare report on audio case studios. Even with a language barrier in the audios, Gayatri Ma’am patiently translated the parts I could not understand. Ankita Ma’am and Mahasweta Ma’am helped me enter the survey data and understand the intricacies of it.
The case studies helped me understand the difficulties and trauma people face. It helped me recognise my privileges and be grateful for them. I would like to thank Sanjay Sir for always guiding me and Sr. Monika for giving me the opportunity to work in this esteemed institution.
Thank You.
Medha Veronica Thakkur.
25.11 2024.”

Bridges of Compassion

Every relationship starts with a connection. This is how friendship sprouts, camaraderie begins, humanity develops… Joining in with the KMWSC as a volunteer for 2 months, I am introduced and explained by the director and the staff of the KMWSC about the vision and targets of their projects, with children and women either at non/low-income settlements in remote villages in West Bengal or in Kolkata city, even in red light or high risk of human trafficking areas. I am really touched by the ways of welcoming with colourful heartfelt rituals by everyone. The trips to visit the projects’ places, for me, are not only to meet, know and talk with the people, but also to understand and encounter mutually kindness, compassion and high respect between people from different backgrounds of religious, status of society and levels of education. Though different languages limited our conversations, but I was captivated by everyone’s wide-open eyes and smiles of members of mother clubs and children clubs, and the ways they responded to questions about their dreams, hope and understanding of human rights, women’s rights and child rights, about how they can do and what they should do. I’m strongly impressed  by the reality of hard working that coordinators and teachers help the children in classes under the shapes of trees in dusty brickfields, or in tiny hot rooms, or beside the walls under the bridges in the city. All, I encountered were joys, love, compassion in challenges of people from different places, near and far, in various ways of contribution. And with thoughtful minds and loving hearts, they stretch their hands to create bridges of loving connection that help each other to become better and become more compassionate towards the marginalized people and life around them.

May their bridges of compassion be strong, prolonged and blessed today and always.

Aithien Nguyen

Vietnam

March 23, 2023

Sr. Jwan Kada

IBVM

Australia & South East Asia

Missioned by Wendy Hildebrand IBVM provincial of Australia and South East Asia to the Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre for two months, involved a real plunging into some of the most vulnerable communities in the world. I visited remote villages where tribal families live well below the poverty line. I went to the informal settlements where children are attending open-air schools under bridges. I was mostly touched by encountering the women of the Red-Light District in Sonagachi, the largest sex trade in Asia where women are seen as a commodity, trafficked and violated. It is there that I truly felt that the work of promoting human dignity and human rights is the most important. It is a deep knowing that my dignity cannot be realised without also realising and promoting the dignity and worth of others.

Welcomed by the villagers from Gangasagar, I felt deeply moved by the washing of the feet ritual, I was humbled by their expression of love and hospitality. Each time we entered a village, the children greet us by touching our feet, and when I asked what it meant, they said, “we do that as a gesture to say that the God in me greets the God in you.”

West Bengal has transformed every part of my being, it is where I got to see and touch the sacredness of humanity, coming to know myself, the God who called me here and the people who have taught me what it means to be human. After having been engrossed in this life-giving mission, I have entered deeply into the lives of the people, listening and learning so that together with our Mary Ward values can move into action, creating a better present and future for all.

Name of the student- Jessica Gomes
Student of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata

My experience with Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre helped me keep an open eye when interacting with people from different groups and communities. Working alongside KMWSC Loreto with the assistance of the staff members helped me gain practical knowledge on and off field, especially visiting the MAC (Multi Activity Centre) and Basirhat for field visit.
The purpose of MAC is to cater to the needs of children upto 18 years and also the school dropouts. The children of these centres are truly welcoming and they made us feel empathetic towards their situation, rather than sympathizing with them.
The organization provides basic necessities the community members of the particular areas they work in.
One of the most important lesson that i have learned in this past few days is that, the Agency and the team gives their all when working on the projects for the women and children. They iive up to their vision of empowering them and their projects are meant to make the chiidren and women self- reliant and self-sufficient.
As a trainee, I felt motivated everytime I got a chance to visit their field areas, and this encouraged me to work with the same enthusiastic spirit and make every effort to achieve my goal of having to work efficiently. The work done by the agency and their team is meritorious. They are working for a noble cause, with the aim of empowering the children and the women.

Name:- Madhurima Sen
University :- St. Xaviers’ University
I have been working at Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre as an intern under the guidance of Sanjay Sir. It has been a beautiful and interesting journey so far. I have learnt a lot for the members of this organisation and how an NGO functions. The visits to the fields have been particularly insightful and gave me a real world view of the problems plaguing this society. The field visits have also given me an opportunity to interact directly with the beneficiaries. I am grateful that I have been placed here as an intern and I look forward to more and more such learnings from the organisation.

Name of the Student – Augustin Ronney Roy
Student of St Xavier’s University Kolkata

I would like to extend my heartiest gratitude to the entire team of KMWSC .
It gives me huge pleasure to be part of KMWSC family and work for such noble
cause. The centre offered a deep experiences into my life. The entire working
schedule was well planned and guided by the supervisor.
The whole members of KMWSC guided me for every work which was assigned to
me , I was extremely happy and grateful to have such supervisor and mentor.
Rinku ma’am KMWSC members was a source of great information and
experiences. It is a great initiative taken by KMWSC by providing the Children in
the red light area with education and also empowering the women of Sonagachi
to become independent by giving them vocational training. It was a great
experiences i had which helped me to learn how sometimes to earn a bread you
have to touch the extremities of earning. I was so amazed to see the children of
Mac centre as they were highly motivated and enthusiastic. I was moved with the
gratitude shown by children of Mac centre by welcoming us open heartedly.
The concept of food ATM was out of bon Idea for serving the needy by filling their
stomach . The idea of providing women with sanitary napkins is a life changing
efforts to make women aware of hygenial importance and preventing the spread
of many diseases.
The outreach of the centre was truly amazing and i have such a eye opening
experiences. I’m so grateful that i had a chance to have such positive surrounding
where I learnt many things from the members of KMWSC .
I will be very grateful if I get opportunity to work here and experience the act of
giving yourself solely to change the world . KMWSC Is doing exemplary work
aiming for the betterment of others.

Name of the Volunteer: Ruth Fitzgerald
Student from Loreto St. Stephen’s Green, Ireland.

I found the experience i have had over the past two weeks with the Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre extremely insightful and eye- opening. Every day was different which exposed us to many different aspects of daily life in Kolkata. I gained lots of knowledge into Indian lives and culture and also realised how important the work that the KMWSC does is and also the huge impact it makes on so many lives. Everybody who we met has gone extremely out of their way to make us feel so welcomed- from the bus drivers to the children in MAC centres. One of my favourite aspects of the experience was being able to sit down and chat to the people living there. It made me realise that despite living so far apart we have so many similarities and found it so easy to spend time speaking to eachother. I really appreciate the amazing experience i have had here with the KMWSC and it is one i will not forget.