Signature of Father Francis (Head of Kolbe Home) -
KOLBE HOME: A Heavenly Haven for Prisoners’ Children
Sr Mangal Shaharao SCC
The present article delineates about Kolbe Home meant for the integral development of prisoners’ children under the care of Prison Ministry India (PMI). These children are either from prisons or from broken families, extreme poverty, single parent or similar homes. They come in terms with life-realities not by scolding and punishment but by love, care and understanding which are the best ways of formation. In our society, most of us look down on prisoners’ children and those pushed to fringes of the society. Through education, spiritual and psychological training, and above all through motherly and fatherly love, Kolbe Home strives to bring them to the main stream of life, by reconciling them with God, self, family and society.
Bryant McGill stated “Every soul is beautiful and precious, worthy of dignity and respect, and deserving of peace, joy and love.” Whoever be the person, he/she is worth of respect and love. In the same spirit, a prisoner and a prisoners’ children are also worthy of dignity and respect. However, we humans make discriminations and do not treat everyone in the same way. Among them the worst affected are prisoners’ children irrespective of whether they are really guilty or not. A home where prisoners' children would feel love, dignity and respect was one of the long-cherished dreams of Prison Ministry India. This article briefly discusses the birth, growth and formation strategies of Kolbe Home meant for prisoners’ children.
Inspiration
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One day when Fr Sebastian Vadakumpadan, the former PMI national coordinator noticed the manner in which prisoners’ children were treated badly by the society, he was inspired to do something concrete for their uplift. The rejection of a prisoner’s child from a boarding because of his father’s crime disturbed him so much. This disturbance became the backbone inspiration by which the Kolbe Home was born. He discussed this concept in the PMI executive meeting and the executive body decided to establish a home for the integral development of prisoners’ children.
Construction
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Rev Fr Pascal OCD who regularly celebrates Holy Mass for prisoners at Central Prison, Bangalore laid the foundation stone for the Kolbe Home. The construction was entrusted with Nandi Builders, Bangalore under the supervision of Fr Sebastian Vadakumpadan. During these days of construction PMI received innumerable graces and blessings from the Lord through many generous hearts in different forms. This support in various forms was the real proof that this home was the plan of God. It is a fact that from the first day of the construction till its completion Kolbe Home was guided by God the Almighty. The timebound completion of the construction of Kolbe Home once again proved that the bank of PMI is BDP – the Bank of Divine Providence. It does not mean that there were no tensions, fear, anxiety, and confusion but thanks to the prayers of thousands the Holy Spirit guided PMI to overcome them easily.
Inauguration
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The dream Kolbe Home realized within no time thanks to the incessant assistance of divine providence and the generous collaboration of the people of Bangalore and PMI benefactors. On 15 December 2015 Bishop Peter Remigius the then PMI chairman blessed Kolbe Home and Most Rev Bernard Mores, the Archbishop of Bangalore inaugurated it. Many PMI volunteers participated in the function. Kolbe Home is the first boys’ home for prisoners’ children in the city of Bangalore which is directly under the Prison Ministry India. The first batch of 8 children was admitted in 2016.
St Maximillian Kolbe
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The home for prisoners’ children is known as Kolbe Home named after St Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941) a Polish Conventual Franciscan Friar. He was imprisoned by the Nazis in Auschwitz concentration camp as he was a Catholic priest. At the end of July 1941, one prisoner escaped from the camp, prompting Karl Fritzsch, the deputy camp commander, to pick ten men to be starved to death in an underground bunker to deter further escape attempts. When one of the selected men, Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out, “My wife! My children!”, Kolbe volunteered to take his place. After they had been starved and deprived of water for two weeks, only Kolbe remained alive. The guards wanted the bunker emptied, so they gave Kolbe a lethal injection of carbolic acid. He died on 14 August. Kolbe Home is named after St Maximillian Kolbe, a martyr of charity and the patron of PMI to continue his love for children. Many prisoners in many prisons continue to cry for their children. As Maximilian Kolbe positively responded to the cry of a prisoner Kolbe home is an answer to the cry of thousands of prisoners for their children.
Administration
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Kolbe Home is an institution of the PMI National Office which comes under the care and protection of the justice, peace and development commission of CBCI. The PMI national coordinator is its director. Its daily running is entrusted with the Satyaseva Catechist Sisters. Sr Gertrude, the superior in collaboration with sisters from different congregations run the home and is in charge of the formation of the children. Like a mother she trains these children to realize their life-goal to be better citizens of tomorrow. These children have been deprived of the basic needs of life and Kolbe Home tries to fulfil these needs.
Bank of Divine Providence
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Kolbe Home is a reality thanks to the generous contribution from the Bank of Divine Providence. Not only its construction but also its daily running and maintenance are sponsored by this bank. This house is fully established because of the generosity of many kind hearted people and is able to maintain the twenty children with all the necessary things of life only by the divine providence of God. We provide them quality education in an English medium school through this unceasing divine providence. There are many volunteers from the locality who come daily to teach these children besides PMI staff. This not only helps them to cope up with their studies but also provides a variety of people to interact with. This enhances their knowledge, experience and gives them a wider outlook towards the lives’ reality.
Goal
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The prime focus of Kolbe Home is to work for the welfare of prisoners’ children and for the children of the least, lost and the last. Kolbe Home aims at primarily developing the human intelligences such as love quotient, intelligent quotient, emotional quotient and spiritual quotient in the children. It strives in providing qualitative education in order to form them into a dignified, responsible and respected citizens of our nation and train them to cope up with the main stream of life. Through education, spiritual and psychological assistance we strive to bring forth in them the human and divine virtues needed to become a great citizen of the postmodern era. To attain this goal, we reconcile them with God, self, their families and society.
Love Quotient
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Kolbe Home is neither a boarding nor a hostel where children are admitted for academic purposes. It is a home where all the human intelligences are taken care of and fostered systematically. Every child is in need of physical quotient (PQ), intelligent quotient (IQ), emotional quotient (EQ), spiritual quotient (SQ) and above all love quotient (LQ). Kolbe home tries to cater to their innermost needs of love and understanding. It is meant for the betterment of children with imprisoned parent that they should not feel abandoned. The Kolbe Home children are more in need of love, care, support, concern, etc. Through the development of love quotient, children shed their old ways and shape up to being well groomed adults able to take on the responsibilities of their lives and families and the nation, at large. The fast-positive changes taking place in Kolbe Home children is a great proof that through deep, genuine love and compassion any naughty boy and girl can be tamed and transformed into great citizens.
Intelligent Quotient
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Keeping in mind of the importance of intelligent quotient the children are sent to an English medium school till the 10th standard. Later on, for their higher studies they are guided and helped according to their aptitude and interests. Expert teachers are appointed for their tuition and special attention is given to weaker students.
Emotional and Social Quotient
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To enhance emotional and social quotients Kolbe have convene different programs for the children. The unity of India is inherent in all its historical and socio-cultural facts as well as in its cultural heritage. Indian Constitution provides guarantee for people belonging to diverse religious, cultures and languages. It covers people belonging to all socio-economic strata. India possesses variety of social, economic, geographical conditions. In India there is unity in apparent diversities of race, religion, language, custom etc. The distinctive feature of India in its unity and diversity is also reflected in the social ethos. Keeping this in mind we celebrate and commemorate every festival and the celebrations of the Indian festivals and National days, which also helps the children well informed of the culture of their own society and beliefs.
Kolbe Home is a home away from home. We create a conducive atmosphere that children feel that it is their own home. As kids, everyone has a desire to mark a few events like some festivals and birthdays. Knowing and understanding their inner feelings, we don't miss out any celebrations thus making them feel at home in Kolbe Home. We celebrate the birthdays of everyone and observe all the major festivals of all religions such as Diwali, Ganesh festival, Bhakhrid and Christmas. Taking part in such celebrations and festivals keep them alert of the things that exist in the society and how they ought to behave in such occasions. Children are taken to the various historical as well as picnic spots and study tours, etc. The purpose is to let them experience living in a new place. There is no better way to learn than experiential learning. These exposure trips help them to be interested in the things that are existing in and around them as well as help them to develop academic interest, self-awareness, professional insight, develop friendships with similar interested students and so on.
Spiritual Quotient
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Spiritual quotient is the most important human intelligence as it controls all other intelligences. To develop spiritual intelligence among the children Kolbe home provides ample opportunities for meditation, yoga, community prayer, personal prayer, scripture reading, spiritual reading, and so on. Great spiritual masters give them exhortations, seminars and life testimonies. They have ample opportunities to meet with highly religious minded groups and personalities.
Other Major Goals
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1. To provide integral and holistic human development for prisoners’ children.
2. To provide quality education in order to form them into a dignified, responsible and respected citizens.
3. To work for the overall welfare of prisoners’ children, and children of the least, lost and the last of society.
4. To assist in the character formation of prisoners’ children by love, care and education.
5. To help the children grow strong enough to stand against the hurdles and hardships of their lives.
6. To make the children responsible towards their family and for others who are in need.
7. To mould them in a way where they can forgive and forget the bitter experiences and the people who caused it.
8. To motivate them to work hard for a secure and standard living.
Affection and Care
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The PMI method to reform the children is nothing but affection and care. Transformation is possible only by love and care. Love does miracles in everyone’s life. This is seen in the children as we see them slowly being transformed and changed from their old ways of doing things and adjust to a newer and gentler way of life. They begin to do things so beautifully though they have so much of bitter experiences, hurts, scars and ill feelings of the past. We help them to come to terms with the reality of their lives not by scolding and punishment but by love and understanding which the only way to teach these children is to give love and care. They do not understand or want to be corrected in a harsh-way because they have had a lot of harsh treatment in their lives which is much more than any normal child of their age has experienced. This is no fault of the children because they have seen such hardships of life and most of their childhood is lost in a lot of bitter experiences.
Every child is entitled to basic needs and a healthy childhood. But sadly, this has been deprived to them. Most of these children are brought up in a poorer environment. Their families are broken and they often look for someone who will love them. When they need money, they don't get it at all, therefore they are forced to choose other means to fulfill their needs. They seek for attention and they fail to get that too. These are some factors that cause them to err. Speaking from the grass root level, today the society in which we live in, looks down on everyone who is in prison and have no proper shelter to live in. The society in which we live is so cruel so much so that it not only looks down on those serving sentences in prison but also on their kids and the rest of the family. This inhuman behavior of some of us, perhaps lead prisoners and their family to go to the extreme level of ending their lives or to form a very arrogant character.
The missing family environment and a society that looks down on them affects these children psychologically that they unable to fathom or grasp what is essential for their lives. They only compare themselves with the children of their age, who live with their parents. Such comparison perhaps creates an ill feeling that the children outside have a sumptuous life while they lack everything. Therefore, in order to, vanish such negative thoughts from their mind, we offer them a complete homely atmosphere so that they do not miss their home. Keeping their future in mind, we mold them with love, care and a personal touch which is somewhat equivalent to a person of the own family. It’s a home away from home. We provide them with the best environment of the children have outside.
The children are from various backgrounds. Therefore, we make them feel at ease with themselves and others. It helps them get connected very well and understand each other. Whatever may be the state of life we are loved and cared by God who created us in His own image and likeness. God loves everyone irrespective of the color or creed. We have received freely and we have to give without holding back. Kolbe Home is a school of Love, a home away from home, a home of love, compassion, understanding, care, concern, acceptance of self and others. Inmates of this home will have ample opportunities for exposure to the life-realities, celebrations of the various festivals, picnics, and social gatherings. There children are trained to cope with lives’ difficulties, by providing lot of input sessions, workshops, counseling friendly as well as professional. Doctors regularly visit them for medical check-ups. Every child is given equal attention, care and assistance. There is a summer camp with children from similar institutions and a strong network with other sister institutions.
Basic Rules
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a. The children who flee from Kolbe Home have no re-admission.
b. The Children whose parents are able to maintain themselves and the children are
rehabilitated to the family.
c. Common language of the house to be kept up that is English.
d. They have to participate in all the activities of Kolbe Home.
e. The children are not allowed to keep money or valuables. All valuables are to be entrusted the person in-charge.
f. No special food is to be served except when they are sick.
g. The staff is not responsible if they leave the house without the knowledge of the house in-charge.
h. Children intending to leave have to give a written explanation stating the reason for leaving and the relatives are informed about the same.
g. All children are given equal attention.
First Stage of Formation
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The first stage of formation begins with the admission of the child with its paper works and documentation. Each and every member of Kolbe Home is given respect and dignity. An atmosphere of mutual trust is maintained. It shares the interests, joys and sorrows of the individual member and tries to understand each member in a deeper way. We visit the families or the place from where the child comes. Every member is required to follow the daily routine and the rules and regulations.
Kolbe Home Timetable
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0530 Rising
0615 Prayer
0730 Breakfast
0815 School
0845 Office
1250 Angelus
1300 Lunch
1400 Office-work
1500 Back from School
1530 Tea/Play
1700 Tuition
1930 Prayer
2000 Supper
2040 Recreation
2115 Night prayer
2200 Light off
Second Stage of Reformation
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This stage of formation begins when children are admitted to school and begin schooling. Here they learn to adjust with other students and develop friendship with others. They learn social and socializing values.
Statistics of Kolbe Home Children
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Year Year Total School Enrollment
2016 2017 8 8
2017 2018 12 12
2018 2019 16 16
2019 2020 20 20
Integral Development
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There is a huge transformation seen in the children, they have learnt to accept and share, love and care, give and take and take care of the health and hygiene of self and the surroundings. Having been guided and molded, they exhibit a greater maturity in their dealing with one another. The boys who had come with a kind aversion to themselves and others, have learned to accept and love one another as brothers. Kolbe Home feels proud of them for doing such miracles in their lives. We feel proud at their success.
Kolbe Home Staff: Views
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We find our children love each other and take care of one another, help to study and do some work etc. Senior boys tolerate well the naughty small ones. If they get anything from the school camps, they hand over to the teachers. If any child did something against the law of the school, other children will report to the sisters. We get good remarks regarding the behavior of our children from schools. Children share the food and study materials with other children in the school who do not bring. They are compassionate to the sick children in the school, and help them to report to the teacher than themselves taking action or they help the other children in the school make peace when they fight. It was a great pleasure when one of our boys from Kolbe home was called upon teachers-parents’ meet and told that this child has a tremendous change within a short time; he has given up all his old ways of doing things and now is the obedient and respectful child.
Kolbe Home Children: Views
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Child 1
I love to be here. I feel at home in Kolbe home. Everyone loves me and cares for me which I didn't get in my home. When my both parents abandoned me I was welcomed to this house and I feel this is my home and my family members don’t even take me for vacations.
Child 2
I came here in 2015, that is the time this home just began with six of us. We six of us have been here from the beginning of this home and we have seen the all the struggles the founding members underwent to give us a pleasant stay. After the arrest of my father the society in which I lived look at me differently in all dimensions of my life. Always I had scarcity for my needs. But today I am so happy that I have all the possibilities here in Kolbe for my growth. My family parental relations, educational, and psycho -spiritual emotions are dealt with one or other member of this home, so I am so much happy to be here.
Child 3
I came to Kolbe when I was in UKG. I feel loved and cared for here Since I came. I don’t miss anything here because I am given enough and more care and concern which should have been given to me by my parents.
Child 4
I’m at home here in Kolbe home. I don’t remember my home as I was small. I grew up in Bangalore Central Jail along with my parents and a younger brother. My early childhood was spent there and still my mother and brother is in Central Jail. Recently my father has come on bail but is unable to give me a home. But Sisters have replaced all my family members and they love a lot and I feel I belong here.
Child 5
After the sudden death of our mother the world came to an end for us three children who were left behind, and father’s imprisonment for the same cause. In Kolbe Home we are given much love and care.
Child 6
I am the fortunate child to be part of the Kolbe family. And here we are provided the best all-round formation along with the academic studies, and also given chance for the extra-curricular activities. I love to be here, this is my home, for its not a boarding or hostel but it’s my home where I am given every opportunity to be myself. We all feel belonged to this home. We who are from the beginning have very fond memories of this Home. I love Kolbe Home.
Child 7
I am a new comer to this home. I was given lot of love concern from every member of the house. This is very conducive home ever I found after my home. I love to be here. Everyone here feels loved and cared for.
Conclusion
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Kolbe Home is a place where God does daily wonders for the wounded and the lost little ones. It is also a home that gives basic love, care and concern for the children who do not have these human psychological and emotional needs at the proper times. Let me conclude my reflection with a double-sided prayer, that to have more and more Kolbe Homes for these children who are having nobody and to reduce these kinds of situations in which children may not be neglected from their basic needs. As Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. Therefore, we took the tool of education to enlighten and to uplift the lives of the children especially those have distorted notion about lives at early age. We teach them moral and human values to put them on the right track. Through our ministry we give them an assurance that they too are precious and loved by everyone. Kolbe Home bears witness what Jesus experienced in Nazareth, “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Lk 2,52).