Our latest project is the Vivekenanda Public School in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
some of the youngest pupils in their small class room
Heal believes that education is the way to escape the poverty trap which is why we are now helping to fund the cost of educating children who currently live with their families in the slum areas of India.
On a recent visit to India Dr Prasad and Kath Bardell were introduced to the Vivekananda School. This school, which is based in a run down, rented accommodation, provides daily education for 220 children from the surrounding slum areas. This school has been running for 10 years. Heal is helping to meet the funding costs of this school to continue the good work that has been undertaken.
very small playing area, plus toilets, & area for drying clothes
Set out below is a short note of the thoughts and feelings of one of our supporters about this situation:
"I spent 25 days visiting parts of India. It is a vast and beautiful country, which is in the midst of an economic change. This is evident in the construction of buildings and new roads and of course, an increase in traffic congestion in the cities and towns and rural areas.
This is the area where the children eat (the kitchen)
While waiting in the traffic there is plenty of time to see the stark poverty of many families that live in hovels on the roadside. Parents who try to make a living working on the construction sites, take their children with them. It is heart rending to see these ragged children breaking stones with their tiny hands trying to help their parents earn something.
Where has their childhood gone? These are the children we are trying to help out of the ‘poverty trap’. Education is the only way to rescue them. The school in Hyderabad is trying to keep going under very difficult circumstances. It is strapped for cash and is running on a shoestring, if it is going to continue to teach these children it needs funds desperately. We must help them.”
One of the Teachers with a few of her pupils
More pupils, together with the young teacher, who herself, when a very young girl was plucked from the slums, taught in the school and came back to teach after training