Educate 100 orphan girls in rural India

Education of girl children is often not encouraged in a gender dominated society, especially in rural areas in Namakkal and Salem districts, Tamilnadu. Though there are many educational institutions in the districts, majority are not government managed and hence the cost of education makes it less accessible for families from disadvantaged circumstances. In addition the distance of colleges from their villages also places a restriction for girls to access education and the condition is more severe for orphan girls. Buds of Christ encourages such orphan girl children from challenging circumstances to continue higher education in colleges that are accessible to them.

One such girl is Jegatheeswari, second child of widowed mother affected by Chronic ill health condition. Her father died when she was less than 5 years old and her elder sister had eloped and died within a year of marriage due to domestic violence. All these situations made both Jegatheeswari and her widowed mother lose courage over their future. It was then they came to know Buds of Christ and was supported with social support programmes. Jegatheeswari’s mother works as a coolie worker on daily wages and lives in a small rented house in a village. The money she earns was just enough to meet the family needs and as Jegatheeswari was studying in a government school, the burden of expenses on education was less and was taken care by Buds of Christ. But in the academic year 2016, Jegatheeswari was enrolled into a private institution for higher education and is doing her first year bachelors in English. The support from Global Giving has helped to pay part of the academic fees for the year which has encouraged her mother to have hope of her daughter becoming a graduate. Jegatheeswari is an active youth member of Buds of Christ and teaches Tamil and English to the orphan children between the age group of 6 to 11 years during the weekends.

Jegatheeswari shares "It gives me great pleasure that I am able to do my higher studies because of well wishers of Global giving who have extended their support to support girls like me. I am blessed to have a wonderful mother who has realised the importance of education and encourages me to continue my education despite our challenging circumstances at home. Thank you Buds of Christ! Thank you Global Giving!!”

Kalai and Kani are sisters from poor disadvantaged background. Both live with their mother, who works as a coolie worker and supports the family. Their father left the family when both were very small. Kalai and Kani are both studying in government school and Kalai is now in her 10th standard. Kalai's every day routine is cooking, washing clothes, cleaning vessels and cleaning up the house before she goes to school. Her mother leaves very early to work  and so she also has to take up the responsibility of looking after her younger sister too.  Kalai is very determined and very positive about becoming a teacher and also aims at scoring more than 450/500 in her upcoming 10th public exams. She and her younger sister received the educational support from Buds of Christ.

It was a very happy moment for Ramya, child living with her father affected by HIV to go into class 11th in this academic year. Her father had lost hope in her, but the constant coaching at Buds of Christ by the peer volunteers and the staff throughout the year has helped her to pass her 10th standard. She was more happier to receive the educational support and expressed

"I am greatly thrilled i am in new class with new bag, books and uniforms. I also have to thank the team at Buds of Christ for coaching me during the holidays and equipping me to pass in my 10th public exams and I am very happy about it”.

The educational support that included, School bags, two sets of uniform, stationery kits and note books and a water bottle was distributed to 100 orphan deserving children for the academic year 2015-16. Buds of Christ and our girls associated with this project, thank friends at Global Giving to be part of this year's academic support to our girl children.