PATRIZIA School Muniguda
In the midst of the rural and sparsely populated region of Odisha, one of India's poorest states, a pioneering education project is being launched as we speak. Living conditions in the area are characterized by tribal structures, tradition and superstition.
This negatively affects young girls in particular, who are often married off as teenagers. Without access to quality education, they are often unable to read and write, which is why they have no job prospects and thus no alternative to child marriage.
„For young girls in particular, access to education offers new perspectives. We are therefore committed to creating the basis for a professional life through quality education and thus protecting them from child marriages.”
Astrid Gabler
Chairwoman of the Board
PATRIZIA Foundation
High-quality education even in remote regions
The project aims to make quality education accessible to poor and disadvantaged children and youth of the 25 villages in the region. Special attention is paid to the education of tribal children, for whom an appropriate learning environment is to be created. This will help increase the region's literacy rate and reduce the number of school dropouts.
Young girls also receive quality education, which forms the basis for later working life and thus an alternative to early married life. With this approach, the school goes beyond the basic need for education and, as a model school, can positively influence other institutions in the area.
Our goal:
Empower underprivileged youth to break free from poverty and
early marriages through education.
Our strong local partner: Don Bosco Muniguda
PATRIZIA School Muniguda is a strong partnership between Don Bosco Province of St. Joseph Hyderabad, Youth One World and PATRIZIA Foundation. The Don Bosco community places special emphasis on holistic education to empower students with courage and confidence to face life's challenges.
Through this project, we promote quality education and childcare in a safe, respectful, environmentally friendly and inclusive environment that creates a foundation for lifelong learning. Through the education and livelihood programs, we enable children and their families to break the poverty spiral.
Our promise:
100% of your donation goes directly to the project in India.
A role model for the whole region
We go further. Our goal is to create long-term perspectives and give children the chance to lead a self-determined life beyond traditional structures by providing them with education and opportunities for personal development. To realise this goal, PATRIZIA School in Muniguda is being expanded with 10 new classrooms and biology, chemistry, physics rooms and a library. In addition, in our READY FOR THE FUTURE programme, the computer lab will be re-equipped and accompanying workshops will be implemented to lay the foundations for digital learning. With this expansion, we aim to increase the school's capacity from the current 625 to about 1,000 students. At the same time, the school's infrastructure will be made environmentally friendly and an awareness for the protection of the environment will be promoted. A modern infrastructure and a supportive learning environment will help the students to achieve their educational goals and thus lead a self-determined life outside the traditional structures.
Stories of Change in Munigua
Stephen's Story of Change
Stephen originally comes from a small, remote village in Odisha. His childhood is very typical for the region: from a very young age, he attended a government-run daycare, called an Anganwadi. There, Stephen received regular meals, but learning? That was nonexistent. The children were looked after and managed, not developed or encouraged—a fate he shares with many children and young people in India.
But one day, Stephen’s life takes a 180-degree turn: when his mother gets a job as a cook at the girls’ hostel in Muniguda, she takes her son with her. Stephen finally gets the opportunity to attend the Don Bosco English Middleschool. “So much has happened since then—my life has completely changed,” he says excitedly.
With the sudden access to education and the support and encouragement from his teachers, it turns out that Stephen is truly a jack-of-all-trades. He is not only good at mathematics, English, and history, but he also loves to sing, is learning to play the keyboard and other instruments, and plays football very well. He is particularly talented at Kabaddi, a mix of dodgeball, wrestling, and tag. “I was even selected for the state league,” he beams. For Stephen, a dream has come true, and he has now become a role model for the other children.
Miriam's Story of Change
In many regions of India, young girls like Miriam have only limited access to education.
Miriam comes from a remote village in the Indian state of Odisha. The village consists of 14 families, mostly Miriam’s relatives. The village community lives off agriculture but does not own the land they cultivate. The six children in Miriam’s family had no opportunity to attend school, as they could not even afford books.
In 2021, the local pastor spoke to Miriam and asked if she would be interested in going to school. Since then, Miriam and 15 other girls from nearby villages have been living in a girls’ hostel and attending the PATRIZIA School Muniguda.
“It gives me great joy to spend time with other children my age! We have fun together and play around. I am grateful for the love and care from everyone.” – Miriam now has a chance for a self-determined future and a good education.