From the desk of Katherine Franks

The majority of our students come from unskilled and uneducated parents, their only way of earning an income is working in the fields for a dollar a day. They dreamt their children would have a new way of life, but they could not see how. They had little money, little opportunity and little hope left. Many cannot even read or write, they are among the millions of illiterate people in India. Despite advances, India still has the highest number of illiterate people in the world, with only 74% of the population being literate.

For the many children out of school in Annupampattu, India, the "Love Annupampattu community development centre" with the school comes as a breath of fresh air.

For some it has meant a new start in life, something the parents of these children only dreamt of...

globalconcernhealing the sick, helping the poor, educating for a better life

While we may take our opportunity for education for granted, the poor of Annupampattu do not. Rarely is a day in school missed, and 100% of all students in 6 years have passed their exams. They dress proudly, hold their heads high and attend class eager to learn. They know the value of their studies. Without it, they will have the life of their parents, a hard life, with much sweat and toil, for very little reward. Their parents want something different for them...they want them to have opportunity.

And this is what they now have.

A free education and a free hot lunch every day! Indian style sitting on the floor.

But much remains to be done.

Despite great improvements, 21 million children in India are still out of school. What does this mean? For them it is not good news, often these children end up on the streets, sweeping, collecting rubbish, working as daily labourers or even worse...

of those that do attend school more than half drop out, often for reasons of money, low motivation due to poor or absent teachers or overcrowded classes. Of course there are those that pass, go onto higher education, get a degree, and break the cycle of poverty they have been raised in...and that is our hope, our dream and our commitment to the poor children of Anuppampattu!

You may ask if the huge investment together we make in these children is worth it?

Being a person that likes to see an 'outcome' for what I give, I have asked this question many times myself, and this is what I have discovered.

In terms of economic development the children gaining education will be given opportunity for increased productivity and improved employment options in later years. In turn this will lead to less aid money being used in vocational training and basic literacy skills for those who 'missed out' on an education. i.e. - it will help them find a good job, and earn an income, so they are not dependant on anyone or on any welfare system.

Child beggar on the street.Young boy working in textile factory.

A sick girl from India begging on the streets

Shutterstock/Paul PrescottShutterstock/Paul Prescott

Shutterstock/thefinalmiracle

21 million children in India still out of school; often these children end up sleeping on the streets.

SEPTEMBER 2011

If every child in a low income country such as India attended school and just gained basic reading skills, 171 million people will be lifted out of poverty. In India, the richest 20% of people average eleven years of schooling compared to three years of schooling for the poorest 20% of rural females. Clearly education is paramount to sustainable economic development! The evidence is unarguably clear that those who gain an education will gain innumerable benefits. i.e the cycle of poverty can be broken!

Shutterstock/Paul Prescott

At Love Annupampattu we have abolished school fees, invested in teaching infrastructure, expanded access to education to the rural poor and provide a daily school meal, essential for a child's intellectual development. This is in-line with the United Nations evidence, that this will decrease drop-out rates and increase the number of children finishing primary school. We find this evidence to be true for the children of Annupampattu!

When we consider that it is just $30 a month to see a child educated... I think you would agree, the answer is "YES" the investment is definitely worth it...in fact, it is hard to think of an investment that would be more worth it...

"Giving an opportunity where there otherwise is none...."