Educate 2000 Underprivileged Children In India

The slide show on Karnataka’s transportation was impressive. It included images and graphics that flowed seamlessly and a perfect English presentation that went along with it. But what was distinctive about this presentation was that the team behind it a group of young girls from an orphanage in Bangalore.

Thanks to 6-month computer course, these girls from U&I’s Learning Center, have some serious Power Point chops. The course, taught by U&I volunteers, covered MS Word, Excel and Power Point. As part of their graduation the girls got to present their final project to a panel of guests.

They were then awarded certificates of completion. And, of course, graduation hats which they got to throw up in the air much to their delight!

It was a proud moment for them - and for us at U&I. These girls now have the skills and the confidence to face some of the challenges that come their way. We've shown them that with hard work, you can dream big. They've shown us that although life circumstances may not be ideal, they can still "Excel" at what they do.

Reena is a bright and confident ninth grader. She sparkles with energy and wit. She is often chosen for inter-school competitions and debates.

Reena is one of 24 girls at an orphanage in Bangalore. Three times a week, U&I tutors meet with Reena and her friends, giving them one-on-one help with their school work.

We help Reena with her academics, we take computer classes and give her books as part of the reading program. More importantly, three times a week, Reena and the other children are affirmed, encouraged and told that they can reach for the stars.

As part of U&I's culture, we affirm each child in every single class. We encourage them to share a "good thing" from their week. We show them that they matter - and that we care.

This is our third year of teaming up with Reena and her 23 little sisters at the orphanage. And our constant emphasis on capturing a child's heart (and not just their minds) is shaping the way the children view themselves and the world around them. 

"U&I has helped me overcome my fears of speaking in front of a big crowd. I am motivated to do one good thing every week so that I can share it with my friends during the U&I sessions," says Reena.

"I have learned to affirm someone who has done a good deed and this has made me more appreciative. U&I has taught me to be kind and thoughtful, expressive and confident. All these qualities have helped me in becoming a committee member in my school. Soon, I want to grow up to be a volunteer at U&I and help the younger kids at Refuge just like my annas and akkas."

We couldn't have asked for better validation of our work! It’s because of children like Reena that we do what we do.

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure that every child we reach becomes the best version of themselves!