A Discussion with Sister Nirmola Cruze, C.S.C., In-Charge, Asha Griha School, Dhaka, Bangladesh
With: Nirmola Cruze Berkley Center Profile
June 11, 2014
Background:
As
part of the Education and Social Justice Fellowship, in June 2014 student
Kendra Layton interviewed Sister Nirmola Cruze, C.S.C., the in-charge of Asha Griha
School in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Located right next to Bottomley Homes Orphanage
School, Asha Griha is a school for students with disabilities. Founded in 2011
by Bishop Theotonius Gomes, the school welcomes students from many ages, faith traditions, and socioeconomic backgrounds. In this interview Sister Cruze reflects on how people with
disabilities have been viewed in Bangladeshi society and her own journey in
coming to this work.
Could
you tell me a little more about the history of Asha Griha School?
Bishop Theotonius Gomes gave us the name as well as the land for this school. It has been here since March 2011. We have five staff and students come from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. We have 35 students, all with disabilities.
And how many of them are indigenous?
None. Most of the children are Muslim. There are two Hindus and four Catholics.
How do students find out about this school?
When we opened this center, we gave an announcement in church. Originally the bishop said it was only for Catholic students.
How soon after did he open it up to students of other faith traditions?
For one year, we waited for our religious people. First we started with six people from Mother Teresa’s house. Then I visited many places in the slums. From those days they began coming. One of the boys who is disabled continues bringing people. Now I have to tell him to stop, because he is bringing more and more.
Could you talk more about how people with disabilities are viewed in Bangladeshi culture?
Now people are a little more soft-hearted. Before when women had children like this in the society they would say, “This is the mother’s sin. Because the mother did a sinful thing, that is why the child was born like this.” Now in society, people support them, and our government, too. They have opened learning centers, but not for poor people. They are asking for more money, and then the poor people cannot go there. We are for the poor, especially for our bishop.
Do students pay anything to come here?
For this month the bishops are giving everything; however, this is the third year we are running this center, and we need a little bit of local contribution. We ask only 50 taka for pencils, notebooks, colored pencils. The bishop gives everything and likes to give. We also give them tipin or food.
Could you speak more about how you came to this work?
I always said I like to work with poor people, and I have been here since 2000. My niece was born with disabilities, and from her I got this gift. Now we do a three day pilgrimage for our Catholic community all over Bangladesh. For the faith of the people, those who have these kinds of children, they ask themselves, “Why was this child born?” The bishop started an awareness program. As part of it, we live together three days and do many activities, like dance and song. For parents, we have sharing. We stand together with the cross. The bishop also stays with us. We do the foot washing for all of the children and a candle procession. I like to go and see with my own eyes. In 2007, the bishop sent me to a three-month training on how to handle students with disabilities.
Before you said your students are holy people. What do you mean by that?
They do not have any demands. Whatever we give them, they love, and they do not have any big demands. If our family member gave us a saree, we might say, “This is not good, I will not wear it.” But whatever we give them, they will not say anything; they will be very happy. The next day they will come with that t-shirt or jeans. Another way we see they are holy is that whatever I say or my staff says, they will do. Even if they cannot do it, they will try.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We like to teach something to them, like how to make greeting cards or rosaries to sell. We also do holistic counseling. I also do it with the mothers. They need the counseling, too.
Bishop Theotonius Gomes gave us the name as well as the land for this school. It has been here since March 2011. We have five staff and students come from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. We have 35 students, all with disabilities.
And how many of them are indigenous?
None. Most of the children are Muslim. There are two Hindus and four Catholics.
How do students find out about this school?
When we opened this center, we gave an announcement in church. Originally the bishop said it was only for Catholic students.
How soon after did he open it up to students of other faith traditions?
For one year, we waited for our religious people. First we started with six people from Mother Teresa’s house. Then I visited many places in the slums. From those days they began coming. One of the boys who is disabled continues bringing people. Now I have to tell him to stop, because he is bringing more and more.
Could you talk more about how people with disabilities are viewed in Bangladeshi culture?
Now people are a little more soft-hearted. Before when women had children like this in the society they would say, “This is the mother’s sin. Because the mother did a sinful thing, that is why the child was born like this.” Now in society, people support them, and our government, too. They have opened learning centers, but not for poor people. They are asking for more money, and then the poor people cannot go there. We are for the poor, especially for our bishop.
Do students pay anything to come here?
For this month the bishops are giving everything; however, this is the third year we are running this center, and we need a little bit of local contribution. We ask only 50 taka for pencils, notebooks, colored pencils. The bishop gives everything and likes to give. We also give them tipin or food.
Could you speak more about how you came to this work?
I always said I like to work with poor people, and I have been here since 2000. My niece was born with disabilities, and from her I got this gift. Now we do a three day pilgrimage for our Catholic community all over Bangladesh. For the faith of the people, those who have these kinds of children, they ask themselves, “Why was this child born?” The bishop started an awareness program. As part of it, we live together three days and do many activities, like dance and song. For parents, we have sharing. We stand together with the cross. The bishop also stays with us. We do the foot washing for all of the children and a candle procession. I like to go and see with my own eyes. In 2007, the bishop sent me to a three-month training on how to handle students with disabilities.
Before you said your students are holy people. What do you mean by that?
They do not have any demands. Whatever we give them, they love, and they do not have any big demands. If our family member gave us a saree, we might say, “This is not good, I will not wear it.” But whatever we give them, they will not say anything; they will be very happy. The next day they will come with that t-shirt or jeans. Another way we see they are holy is that whatever I say or my staff says, they will do. Even if they cannot do it, they will try.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We like to teach something to them, like how to make greeting cards or rosaries to sell. We also do holistic counseling. I also do it with the mothers. They need the counseling, too.
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