News from Shantidhara

Educating India's Poor --

by Maria Jojayya Addagatla

The academic year 2005-2006 ended very successfully in May and after the annual examinations, the children went to their villages to spend their month long summer holidays. But for the staff, the holidays amounted to very few days indeed, as they continued their work of preparing and gathering the necessary things for the coming academic year such as tamarind, mango and tomato pickles.

As you all know, up to May of this year we had only 14 children at the hostel. Clara Gari (PILLALU Association), was supporting 9 children while another 5 children were being supported by Noor Gillani (PYAR Foundation). During Clara and Enrique's visit January 2006, Clara made an agreement with Shantidhara to support a further 10 children and also to support the further education of Sharuna (more about Sharuna's exam success below!). Every project has its ups and downs, and ours is no different. Unfortunately two children were forced to discontinue their studies because of irreparable family problems but on the other hand, Nikhil, whose parents withdrew him last year from the hostel, thankfully decided to send him back for this academic year and we are delighted to welcome him again.

Though Shantidhara receives many applications for admission to the hostel, we have personally visited all the applicant families and finally selected 12 very deserving poor children to fill the new places and the places vacated. We have also tried our best to maintain a good balance between girls and boys (13 boys and 11 Girls).

It was very difficult for the new children leaving their favorite village-squares and it took two weeks for all of us to accustom them to the life of the hostel and school, and to get them looked after properly with a lot of work such as haircuts, daily intensive baths, doctor's check ups and medications, nourishing food, teaching them new games etc., and now everyone is now very happy with life in the hostel.

Thank you dear friends.

Maria Jojayya Addagatla

Director