Dear friend,

Here we are well into our sixth year of helping educational projects in southern India.

This last visit really brought home to me how things have changed since 1999! It was heartwarming to see what a difference FOI has made in a relatively short time with such slender means.

I am constantly amazed at what a small amount of money can do – and this is the theme of this year’s newsletter.

Ongoing Projects

Our annual visit to the fishing village of Kovalam showed yet again that your francs go a long way, as we met about 150 children who receive nutritional snacks, extra tuition, uniforms and learning materials – all for the sum of 3,500 francs per year!

Our vocational training centre continues to provide opportunities for women to earn a living. With our support, our partner the SUEB has grown from 60 to 525 self-help groups
the leaders of which attend weekly training courses. This means that 10,000 women are being empowered and becoming economically and socially influential within their communities. All this for just 20 francs per person per year!

On our website you will soon be able to read about the success stories encountered in this highly motivating environment we call “each one teach one” – a great way of passing on skills. Women are becoming breadwinners, empowered through education to fight against poverty.

Two years ago we filmed 200 children learning to read under a tree! Through our school enrichment programme these children now learn within the secure walls of a new school. So little money can enhance the learning environment! In 2003 we assisted 12 schools by providing salaries for 28 teachers, partitions for four classrooms, blackboards, school furniture, toilet facilities and learning materials – all for less than 20,000 francs.

In another ongoing project we have managed to break ground (literally) as the dried up wells of the Bethel Home in Salem are now being deepened. The tremendous drought had worsened the situation and had delayed the work. We anticipate that from this summer the 650 orphans will have their own water supply.

New Projects

During our visit to the Tamilnadu Foundation (TNF) we met representatives from various organizations seeking help from FOI. Once again we were struck by the relatively little amount needed to make a difference in so many lives. We learned that many little girls are kept from going to school because there are no toilet facilities. In line with our goal of enhancing the learning environment and conditions for children, we have chosen to help five schools by installing toilets.

We were also touched by the Thulir “Joy of Learning” school which needs a multi-purpose building in order to provide extra tuition to high-risk students and vocational training and empowerment for women. The contribution needed is only 7,000 francs.

In a dusty little village we were led into a classroom where two groups of children sat on the floor, 95 on one side and 85 on the other! Just outside another group of 50 children sat on the ground with their teacher. For just 10,000 francs we can finance two new fully equipped classrooms!

More friends needed!

The great challenge for us is to choose amongst so many worthwhile projects. Is it possible to say “no” to a home for destitute children and adults affected by AIDS? To a Trust needing funds to test the eyes of about 1,000 children in remote village schools? Or to provide a short stay care centre for physically or sexually abused young girls?

Our dream is that more and more people will advance the cause of education particularly for girls and women. By so doing we are giving them the power to shape their lives.

Your contribution, no matter how modest, can make all the difference.

With sincerest thanks to you, the real Friends of India!
Pam
Pamela Walsh OBE
President

PO Box 88, 1297 Founex, Switzerland, or pam@friends-of-india.net