Tilloli Community, Nashik (1996 – )
Tilloli is a village situated in the Taluka of Dindori in Nashik District under the Diocese of Nashik. It is twenty-five kilometers away from the city of Nashik. The people of this village are Adivasis belonging to various tribes. The Assumption Sisters were working in the nearby village called Mahaje from 1982 onwards in collaboration with Maharashtra Prabodhan Seva Mandal (MPSM). Tilloli School was the extension of the mission of Mahaje village. (Mahaje Community, Nashik (1983 – 1996)
The Bombay Jesuits invited the Assumption Sisters to collaborate with the Maharashtra Prabodhan Seva Mandal (MPSM) who work for the socio-economic development and conscientization of the tribals of Nashik. It gave an added impetus to the Province’s determination to work with the poor tribals who were their priority in the villages of Maharashtra. After many years of experience with the tribal community, the sisters understood that the non-formal apostolate should go hand in hand with formal education. Hence, in 1996 the community was closed in order to open a school in Tilloli.
Education of girls, particularly of poor Adivasis is the focus and the ‘Ashram School’ seemed for the sisters the best way to empower the tribal girls by means of the ‘Assumption Pedagogy’ of education. In 1995 after receiving an invitation from the people to start a school, the sisters from Mahaje village shifted their residence to Tilloli village on 30th January 1996.
A long-awaited dream was fulfilled with the establishment of the first Assumption School -‘Dhayan Jyoti Kanya Ashram School’ in Tilloli. This is the first school run by the Assumption Sisters in India with seventeen girls and twelve boarders at the start. It was inaugurated on 3rd July 1996 in Tilloli village in (Samaj temple) a small room. When sisters saw that girl child were neglected and they were not sent to school, they started school privately. It is a residential school for tribal girls from 6 years to 16 years (Pre Primary to Secondary). It was a province mission to reach out to the periphery. The tribal department approved the school in 2004. This mission is now a joint effort of the Government and the Assumption Sisters in India. Then in Maharashtra government pays the food expenses of the students and staff salary. The Assumption Sisters take care of the infrastructure and other educational expenses. Thus the vision and mission of St. Marie Eugenie through the mission in Tilloli by reaching out to 500 families each year are actualized. The mission of Tilloli is steadily flourishing as the years go by with the residential school and boarding for the tribal girls. The sisters are animated by the pedagogy of Assumption education and it is visible in the progress of children and their families. The sisters carry the heavy burden of work that rests on their shoulders joyfully. Their zeal, commitment, sacrifices, ability to handle difficult situations, kindness, coupled with stern dealing with government officials and other people is really amazing.
