Just one year ago, I visited the deprived slum districts of Bangalore (Bengaluru). I had been invited to see the "Building Blocks" Learning Centres that had been established by an idealistic educationalist, James Suresh Ambat.
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| Smart young children learning their numbers and tables |
These Building Blocks pre-schools are mainly funded by businesses and wealthy local individuals, with support from organisations like Indian branches of Rotary and Lions Club.
When I saw the organisation and the vibrant enthusiasm of both the children and the teachers, I was seriously impressed. These youngsters now take a pride in their appearance, and their self-esteem has blossomed. By the time they are six years old, these children from impoverished and deprived slum neighbourhoods, are numerate and literate in both the local Kanada language and English, making them potential candidates for the English-medium educational sector.
However, such further schools are fee-paying, and when James Ambat described the scale of his operation and the challenges they face, I asked whether there was a fund-raising operation in the UK. When he said "No," I asked if I could set one up.
It has taken a year to find a suitable charitable trust, and with the help of a friend I tracked down one in Devon who were interested in working with me. Earlier this month, the Charity Commissioners allowed the setting up of Escape from Poverty with all the benefits of charitable status, which will facilitate a 25% increase in the value of donations from UK resident tax-payers through the Gift Aid system.
Sponsoring a child for school fees and the after-school coaching and tuition groups costs less than a pound a day (£360 per year,) and as soon as the new charity's bank account is open, I shall be launching the crowd-funding for two sponsored scholarships.
These will support two siblings, Krishnakanth and Keerthi.
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| Krishankath and Keerthi with their mother |
My target is to fully-fund and pre-pay their 10-year scholarships in the course of this current year. Once my friends and other donors have helped to achieve this, we shall seek out two more children to sponsor in the future.
Of course, individuals or families or groups can choose to sponsor a child themselves, - which is what I did last year. Chaitra has glowing school reports. She sent me a touching birthday card, and already one friend here in the UK has now also decided to sponsor a young girl for her next ten years of education.
More details of Escape from Poverty once the new charity website is up and running.
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