Profits from Christmas market donated to Sister Jeanne Devos Foundation
This year, the profits from the Leuven Christmas market, which took place on the Ladeuzeplein and the Hooverplein between 10 and 19 December, were donated to the Sister Jeanne Devos Fund for Children’s Rights. Professor Peter Adriaenssens, (right) the chair of the foundation, and Sister Jeanne Devos (left) herself were the patrons of this year's market.
Sister Jeanne Devos is a Belgian nun who departed for India in 1963. Her work in the metropolis Bombay focuses particularly on improving the lot of domestic staff, especially housemaids, who often have practically no rights whatsoever. To this end, she founded the National Domestic Workers Movement. K.U.Leuven is committed to providing long-term support to Sister Jeanne Devos’ work. In 2000, she was awarded an honorary doctorate and in 2007, the Sister Jeanne Devos Foundation for Children’s Rights was officially inaugurated. The foundation’s objective is to support and promote Sister Jeanne Devos’ work and its significance, both in the Flemish and Indian communities.
At the Christmas market, a team of enthusiastic volunteers sold artisanal handicrafts that Jeanne had brought back from India, as well as candles donated by the City of Leuven. The money raised will finance the construction of two additional classrooms at the crisis shelter for women and children on the run, which is being built in Mumbai and which will be named “Jeanne Devos House”.
In many ways, 2010 was the year of Sister Jeanne Devos in Leuven. She celebrated her 75th birthday and her movement’s 25th anniversary this year. On 1 June, she became the first woman to whom the key to the City of Leuven has been awarded.
