HOW IT STARTED
After several months of being on a mission, observing, and asking questions, we noticed that many girls do not finish school, and there are many reasons for this, including: sometimes parents (guardians) do not have money to buy books, uniforms, or necessary supplies; it happens that they have to choose between their son or daughter who will finish school, and they usually choose the son because there is a higher probability that he will succeed. This is related to the fact that unfortunately, girls have much less free time for studying after classes. They very often help at home: doing laundry, cooking, cleaning, selling at the market, looking after younger siblings.
And thus the Blessed Anuarita Dormitory was created – in response to the needs of local girls...
THE STAY IN THE DORMITORY CREATES NEW OPPORTUNITIES
This is a place where through shared learning, work, and prayer we want to develop the talents and skills of girls, supporting them not only in education but also in spiritual and human progress. Therefore, every day there is time for learning, work, prayer, and fun. Living together, they want to create a community where each of them will feel safe and can grow in an atmosphere of mutual respect and awareness that they are important. And when they are in need - will receive help.
In the school year 2025, 22 girls from various parts of our parish, from villages located several to several dozen kilometers from Masansa, has lived in the Dormitory. Sometimes, there is no secondary school in the girls' place of residence, or it is very far away. Some of our charges did not pass their exams and cannot continue their education, while their parents cannot afford the fees. Others, on the other hand, did not have the conditions at home to study: no "own place" and silence to learn, electricity, and sometimes even a table.
A GOOD PLAN IS THE FOUNDATION!
Each day begins with a joint prayer at 5:00 AM. Yes, in the morning. Then we prepare to leave and set off around 5:45 to reach school on time. Although classes start at 7:00, students must be in school earlier to prepare the classrooms: arranging tables and chairs (if there are any in the class), sweeping the floors, the school courtyard, and the surroundings, picking up wrappers...
Classes usually end at 13:20, so at 14:00 we have lunch, then we pray together the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, after which it's time for extra lessons. Three times a week, teachers come to help the girls catch up on their math and English. Then there are household chores, the rosary, dinner, evening study, and a joint prayer to conclude the day.
Usually on weekends, Friday - Saturday - Sunday, the girls have more free time, but it can still be noticed that many of them use their free moments for studying.
WHAT NEXT?
We are aware that not all of our mentees will finish college or university, which is why we want to equip them with skills that will ensure a good future for their families.
Currently, three of our girls are participating in sewing and cooking courses. It is amazing to see how, from being unsure of themselves and their skills, they have become brave and self-confident young women after just a few months.
One of them, after the first weeks of the course, regained her self-belief, came back to life, and the sparkle returned to her eyes. When she returned for the holidays and showed off the clothes she had sewn or the knitted coasters she had made, she was glowing! It was as if someone had restored her dignity; she felt that she could achieve something. This is not an isolated case, but rather a trend.
