Education is life changing - no matter where in the world

I'm doubly blessed
I am thankful for my school. I am especially grateful for my leadership Team who inspire me and for the students, staff and parents - who bring joy, purpose and encouragement. I take none of this for granted. 

It is also such a privilege for me to co-lead and be part of a team that brings education to some of the most vulnerable and marginalised kids on the plant. With this, I am mindful that if it wasn't for the skills and many things that I learn in my daily work as Principal that I would not be able to do what I do in India and to bring education to kids like Madhu...

Madhu's Story
Madhu is a daughter of a poor Hindu family. She is 7 years old and studies in class 3. Her father's name is Dhyan Singh and her mother's name is Jayavanti Devi. Madhu has two younger sisters and a younger brother.

Both of Madhu's parents work as labours. They both leave for work in the morning, after that Madhu takes care of her sisters and brother, as well as getting herself to and from school each day. Madhu is a very playful girl.

Madhu's living condition is not very good as her father drinks alcohol every day and is addicted to gambling. Madhu's father sometimes fights with her mother in his drunken state. Her mother is also addicted to gambling. When her parents fight with each other, Madhu and her siblings have to starve that night. Her father wastes his earnings in either alcohol or in gambling. He does not seem to care for his children.

Madhu has been attending one of the Project Help Jungle Village centres for the last 3 to 4 years. In the beginning she used to fight with the other students, use bad words and rarely attend. She would mostly be very rude and ignore her teacher. But now she has changed. She attends the centre regularly and whenever she is ill she informs the teacher about it. She don't use bad words anymore and now doesn't fight with anyone. She is doing well in her studies and tries her hard to learn new things. She takes part in the extra curricular programs held in the centre specially dancing. She is now friends with everyone.

Madhu's mother is very thankful to Project Help and says that the whole village community is changing because all of the children can now access a good education in their locality.

This education is changing the future of the children from one where there is no hope, to one filled with possibility and promise. Many kids like Madhu and working hard because they want a better life, than what they now have. While it’s slow and gradual, this is evidence of a community transformed by education and a sense of purpose.