Girls at St Patrick's enjoy reading lessons.

Q. How does Mission Together help?

A. Mission Together supports both the formal and informal education of children. In the first instance it provides regular grants for equipment for St Patrick's school which was built in 1988 and extended in 1998.

Q. What is the literacy level?

A. The official level for Assam is 52%. However in this remote area we estimate that it is no more than 10%.

Q. How are children in remote villages able to attend school?

A. In remote villages there are no schools for children to attend. This is why Mission Together provides funding to help build and maintain hostels for girls and boys. The boys hostel opened just two years ago, thanks to a £20,000 grant from Mission Together. The parish and diocese raised the rest. Now we are able to reach more children in outlying areas by giving them a hostel place in term time. They attend school during the day and return to the hostels after school. They are very well cared for in the hostels. The sisters make provision for study, cultural activities, personal welfare, prayer and play.

Boys share the Sign of Peace at Mass.

Q. Are girls given the same opportunities as boys to attend school?

A. We still have to work hard with some families in encouraging them to allow girls to attend. Girls between the ages of seven and eleven are expected to look after the home. The present attendance ratio is three boys to one girl [see bar chart].

Q. What difference does education make in the lives of families?

A. In the first instance, competence in literacy and numeracy prevents workers being cheated by employers and unscrupulous traders. It makes them aware of their rights. As well as that, some of our older pupils are looking towards the professions for a future career. Education is the key.

Q. What is your hope for the future for the children?

A. It is our aim to reach as many of our poorest of the poor Catholic families as possible to provide places for the children in the hostels and the schools. This takes funding. Families cannot afford this. That is why we are so grateful to organisations like Mission Together who make this possible.

Girls enjoy dressing up for cultural dance.