Growing Mushrooms, Growing Hope: A Day with Young Dreamers
19.12.2024, Don Bosco Welfare Center, Joypur, Birbhum
There are days that leave a mark on your heart, and our visit to Don Bosco Welfare Center in Joypur, Birbhum was one such day.
Don Bosco, Joypur comprises a parish and a boarding facility that houses nearly 450 boys and girls. The girls’ boarding section is managed by the CTC Sisters. In addition to providing pastoral care to the people in 210 villages and 36 sub-centres, the community also carries out village outreach initiatives and developmental programmes, including educational scholarships and support for house construction. It is not just an ordinary school and boarding facility. Tucked away in the quiet village of Joypur, it’s a safe haven for tribal and underprivileged children, where education is not just taught, but lived. The school provides residential facilities creating a nurturing ecosystem with compassion and leadership that breathe life into the institution.
We, team Eco Tribe Foundation, often work with communities to promote sustainable practices, but this experience felt different—deeper, more personal, and profoundly inspiring. When administrator Raju Sir invited us to conduct a mushroom cultivation workshop, it felt like a beautiful opportunity to plant more than just spores—we were there to plant the seeds of curiosity, self-reliance, and sustainable livelihood.
As we stepped onto the campus, we were welcomed with wide smiles and eager eyes. The morning began with a friendly conversation, not a lecture. We sat with the youngstars and the staff, sharing stories and asking questions. We talked about mushrooms—not just as fungi, but as food, as income, and as a symbol of how something simple can create something valuable. We introduced them to the concept of mushroom farming as a sustainable and affordable way to support a family. It was amazing to see how quickly they connected the dots. They understood that mushrooms are not only nutritious but also hold the promise of financial independence—a small venture that could grow big, right from their backyards.
Then came the most exciting part—the hands-on training. We showed them how to prepare substrate, process of composting and sterilization, turning what’s usually agricultural waste like rice straw into fertile ground for growth. We explained the different types of mushroom spawn to them.
As we moved to the practical part—filling and tying the mushroom grow bags, and hanging them with nylon thread knots—the students took charge with an energy that was nothing short of electrifying. Laughter echoed through the training space. Some had never touched rice straw like that before, some were hesitant at first—but within moments, their hands moved confidently, helping one another, asking questions, figuring things out.
We were completely overwhelmed by their spontaneous participation, their raw curiosity, and their hunger to learn. These young minds, so full of potential, reminded us why we do what we do.
Time flew. What felt like a few minutes was actually hours of learning, laughing, and dreaming. By the end of the session, we weren’t just instructors—they had welcomed us as part of their world. One student came up and asked, “Can we do this in our village too?” That one question carried with it all the hope and promise we had wished for.
As we packed up, we felt a quiet pride—not in what we had taught, but in what we had witnessed: the beginning of something beautiful. A generation of students who now see possibility in a handful of straw and a pinch of spores. A future where they are not just surviving but thriving, empowered with knowledge and skill.
We left Don Bosco with our hearts full. The sun dipped behind the trees as we waved goodbye, but the light we saw in those young eyes shone brighter than ever.
This wasn’t just a workshop. It was a journey of shared dreams, and it reminded us that real change starts small—sometimes, as small as a mushroom.
