Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) Executive Director Jenny Cafiso and Program Coordinator Juan Emilio Hernandez visited CJI’s Jesuit partners and other Jesuit institutions in India and Nepal from April 11 to May 1.
The trip, took them to New Delhi, Bagdogra, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kathmandu, Sadakbari, and Simalbari, was an opportunity to assess the progress of CJI-supported projects, and offer solidarity to CJI partners and networks.
Visits were made to the New Delhi Indian Social Institute, Lok Manch, the Human Life Research and Development Centre, Gandhi Ashram, Hayden Hall, the St Alphonsus Social and Agricultural Center (SASAC) and SOJASI, and Moran Memorial School, among others. Along the way, Cafiso and Hernandez were able to learn more about the projects and their local context, as well as renew friendships and forge new ones.

Q: This is CJI’s first visit to its project partners after the Covid-19 pandemic, what made you decide to go to India and Nepal first?

Jenny:  CJI has a special, long-standing relationship with the Darjeeling Jesuit Province and with Nepal.  CJI has been supporting the work of the Jesuits in India and Nepal for decades since the first missionaries went to the region in the 1950s. Many Canadian friends of CJI have visited and have been supporting the work of the Jesuits there for decades. It is perhaps the areas where we support the largest number of projects. It was only right that this would be the first visit we would make after the COVID pandemic.

Juan:  For me it was an extraordinary opportunity to meet some of our strategic partners, and to witness the real impact of the effort being made from Canada to support so many projects in India and Nepal

Q: What was the purpose of these visits? Why does CJI visit its project partners?

Jenny: Our visit was an opportunity to renew relationships with the local Jesuits and program directors of the various Jesuit projects, to hear from each other, to witness the progress of the work and to identify new needs and opportunities for future collaboration. It was also a way to show our support for the work that they do and to renew friendships.

Juan: As part of the work of the International Programs Office, it is important to accompany our partners in the implementation of the projects, to understand the context, the realities, to know the teams working with the communities and mainly to dialogue with the beneficiaries to identify the best way to support them in their struggle for social justice.

Q: How would you describe the visits? What did they achieve?

Jenny: The visit exceeded our expectations. We were touched and often overwhelmed with the warm hospitality shown us. After so many years of working at CJI, for me going to India and Nepal really felt like going home and being among friends. We visited the projects we have been supporting, we saw the impact of our support, we had the opportunity to participate in meetings with staff and with beneficiaries, we conducted interviews, and we were able to see firsthand the impact of the support that Canadian donors give to this work. We also had important conversations on ways to face difficulties and how to improve our collaboration in the future, as well as identify future priorities. The conversations were frank and based on mutual trust and respect. We knew we are united in a common mission.

Q: What insights did you gain from the trip? What impact, if any, would they have on the work of CJI?

Jenny: There were several important insights. One was that the seeds that were planted by the first initiatives started decades ago, have produced rich fruit. Many of the projects we have supported over the years are still fully functional and continue to respond to local needs. The other is that the response given by the local Jesuits and the projects CJI supports has grown and adapted to new realities and the evolving needs of the local society, providing new answers to new problems. There are new initiatives to better respond to today’s challenges and some of the older projects have developed new methodologies and approaches. Thirdly, there is greater emphasis given to the participation of the local community in the design and implementation of the projects. Also, a greater role is given to organizational strengthening, capacity building, and supporting transformative processes that have long term impact. Finally, I was consoled to see a continuing emphasis on reaching people on the margins of society, those who are poor and excluded.

Juan: India and Nepal are countries with great diversity and wealth, but at the same time with enormous challenges and great inequalities.  I think that the main achievement of the trip has been to know the context of our partners and to strengthen ties with people who until now we only had communication through emails or documents. A special relationship has been created and strengthened and this helps in a great way to facilitate project processes since now a personal bond has been generated that would never have been achieved virtually.

Q: What were the highlights of the trip? Were there things that surprised you?

Jenny:  The greatest highlight was having the opportunity to hear from some of the beneficiaries of the projects and the staff. I was impressed by how articulate they were in expressing the needs of the community, their hopes and their aspirations. And the most impressive thing was that it was young people who were most articulate and passionate about the work, their commitment and the kind of future they want.

Another highlight was meeting Jesuits and lay people I had met years ago and seeing that they are still working with a deep commitment to the people and the work for the long term.

The thing that I still find shocking and surprising is the level of extreme poverty that is still so prevalent in a country with the resources, sophistication and wealth that India has. The level of inequality and gap between the rich and the poor is shocking. It is shocking that there are still people suffering from diseases that are unheard of in our country, and so many children who come to school hungry.

Juan: These two countries never cease to amaze you at every moment — the food, the customs, the hospitality, the beauty of the landscapes, the cultural richness, etc. However, what motivated me the most was meeting people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for the welfare of their families, and people who, despite the adverse conditions they face, are happy and live their lives to the fullest.

Q: What message would you like to give to those who support the work and to potential supporters of CJI’s Jesuit partners in India and Nepal?

Jenny: The most important message I would like to give is “thank you.”   We heard words of gratitude so many times during our trip and my answer was always the same, the “thank yous” go to the thousands of people in Canada who continue to trust us and who generously give over many years. It is all the more remarkable because most of Canadians who support CJI have not had the privilege we had to meet face to face with the thousands of men, women and young people who inspired us with their gratitude, their commitment and their passion to build a better future. I can say to them that their generous spirit is changing lives.

Juan: The impact that we can generate from CJI may seem small in front of the enormous inequalities and challenges in India and Nepal. However, being able to improve the quality of life of the beneficiaries served by our partners justifies everything and gives meaning to the work that each of us does from Canada and to the support and commitment we receive from our donors.

If more Canadians had the opportunity to meet those brave Indians and Nepalis who, on a daily basis, face situations that are difficult for us to even imagine, bonds that are impossible to break would be created where both parties would benefit and be strengthened.