The work of Sister Rosy Alappattukunnel in Kerala, India, is one of the hundreds of ways in which Medical Mission Sisters around the world try to be a healing presence to those in need today.

The Don Bosco Sneha Bhavan Project in Cochin, Kerala, started for street children in 1974. The Salesians of Don Bosco have done a great deal for homeless children in the areas of education, skill training, and job placement. Medical Mission Sister Rosy Alappattukunnel works with them in the Valsalya Project. It is a holistic health approach to street children, with a focus on counseling the children to promote better emotional health.

When Sister Rosy joined this project in 1997, she was a pioneer entering an unknown field. Her first step was to try to establish a rapport with the children, to encourage them to open up and share their problems and difficulties. "Children are on the streets because their families have become dysfunctional," she explains. "They have suffered breaks in relationships which lead to social isolation. This results in the deterioration of physical, mental, and emotional health."

Having had training in homeostatis reality therapy (HRT), Sister Rosy found this technique helped the children to deal with some of their deep emotional problems, especially deep hurt due to the loss of love and appreciation from parents and loved ones. Since many of the children are unable to concentrate on studies, an open type of school system, allowing the children to learn a trade as well as study, has proven very effective.

"I feel that I have a mother role to play," says Sister Rosy. "Many of the children do not have a mother, and they really miss a mother's love and care ... the children are happy with me, and I am happy to be with them."

home     
e-mail mmsorg@medicalmissionsisters.org