The next step

This is the time of the year when students step from their schooling to college education. 10th standard results have come, Karnataka board has shown increased pass percentage. And, over 6o students, applied for scholarships with us.

So, over the last several weekends, we visited their homes. Talking to their families, figuring out the social-economic conditions, and counselling the kids on application process.

When came across families that can fend for themselves, we move on.

There are a lot of homes that strike a chord.....you are stunned and amazed at the poverty.....and yet the persevearance & the enthusiasm of the children to study further.......and the desperateness in their parents.

I don't want to romanticize their lives. But would like to present a few impressions during the visits.

Here is Chaitra, she kept calling me for weeks, as to when we would visit their house. And finally Nancy & I, landed one day, to find her, and her step-mother with a young child, smiling & waiting for us.

We were led to their small home - zapped by Kalpana Chawla's pic all over....apparently Chaitra gave a talk on her at school.

A kannada medium student, she secured 82%. Daughter of a lorry driver, stays with her granny step mother, an infant, an uncle - whoz down with TB(Tuberculosis) and needs to be supported - A small house, no TV etc

And....she wants to take up science....perhaps be an Engineer etc....on first looks it looks possible....but then coming from Kannada medium, taking up science, amidst the stiff competition may not be easy......we are still debating Science vs Commerce for her.


Of the 60++ house visits, various teams from us did.....here for the first time, Nancy was offered 'Arishina kumkuma' ;-)

Moving on....two more cases.

Nirmala.....daughter of a Nepali security guard (Goorkha)...Ram Bahadur......he gaurds a shopping complex on Lalbaugh road.....and behind the complex...in between the space between two buildings... a corridor is his house....I opened the door... walked in to a narrow corridor....a cot...and thats it.....mother no more......she has a younger brother... is determined to study. She got 80% in 10th...and she joined commerce at BMS college today.

As we were winding up the selection process...one of the newly selected student, brought her friend along...RajaLakshmi.....Father security guard...1.5k....Mother house maid.....another 1.5k.....some more money with over-time work....a younger sister who moves to 8th std now....money not sufficient....and she has been working......she has been working part-time at a Fancy store near her home...5:30pm to 8:30pm kinds...during her 10th std....earned 850 per month....and passed with 66%........in the holidays she works fulltime and is paid 1350. And, she wants to persue commerce.

Girls (& boyz) like them.....define life.

Yes, we need funds to sponsor their education....we have identified around 20 students for full support, and a few with partial support.