Education India Project #7448

Educate an Indian Child Experiencing Poverty

by Christel House International

Educate an Indian Child Experiencing Poverty

Project Report | Aug 9, 2016
Coming Soon: A New Christel House in India

By Aubrey Merki | Manager, Christel House

Christel House is breaking the cycle of poverty

The reality for impoverished children in India, particularly girls, is stifling. They face insurmountable odds and are sentenced to repeat the generational cycle of poverty into which they were born.

An estimated 47% of women in India are married by age 18¹.
29.8% of girls in India complete Grade 10 ¹.
Only 1 in 100 girls in India graduate from Grade 12¹.

Christel House has been working to break this cycle of poverty in India for 15 years. Students starting in kindergarten at Christel House India are 16 times more likely to graduate from a post-secondary education program when compared to government school students.

Girls with secondary schooling are 6 times less likely to be child brides than those with little or no education ³.
Christel House India has a 96% annual retention rate.
98 in 100 students at Christel House India pass their graduation exams.

And, with your support, we want to continue the impact. We will soon open a new school in India to give even more children a brighter future.

The government of Chhattisgarh, one of India’s poorest states, is building a new school for Christel House in the city of Naya Raipur. The school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2016. Initially, it will serve 210 students in Grades K–2. Each year, the school will add one new grade level.

The government is funding construction, but Christel House will be responsible for covering the cost of student programs, teachers, books, food, health care and transportation.

For young girls living in poverty in Naya Raipur, attending Christel House will mean a free, quality education, nutrition, medical support, safe transportation to and from school and a healthy environment to learn and grow.

Your support of ‘Educate an Indian Girl-Child from the Slums’ is giving impoverished girls the opportunity to step into a classroom for the very first time. Thank you for helping to change a child’s life story.

1. The World of Indian Girls 2014 Report – Save the Children
http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se/sites/default/files/documents/executive_summary_of_wings_2014.pdf
2. Impact at Scale, DARSA
https://www.dasra.org/insight/impact-at-scale
3. Keeping Girls in Secondary Schools, DARSA
https://www.dasra.org/cause/keeping-girls-in-secondary-schools

Rendering of the new school in Naya Raipur

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May 12, 2016
Cabbie's daughter lands a job at Dell

By Aubrey Merki | Manager, Christel House

Kusuma at graduation

We are excited to share that Kusuma, a 2011 Christel House India—Bangalore graduate, was recently featured by The Times of India. We thought you might enjoy reading her story.

Cabbie’s daughter lands a job at Dell

BANGALORE: Kusuma’s story is one of turning hardships into opportunities. Daughter of taxi driver Raju and school helper Pushpamma, this computer science graduate has beaten all odds to land a job at Dell Inc.

The 23-year-old woman says she owes much of her success to Christel House India—Bangalore, a charitable organization that works for the education and healthcare of children from impoverished city neighborhoods. Pushpamma heard about the school from one of her colleagues and ensured her daughter went there.

"No one should define the way you should be. And if someone does so, you should work harder to fulfill your dreams," said Kusuma, who faced monetary difficulties and battled social stereotypes. "No one ever thought I was capable of achieving anything," she said. Her mother had big dreams for her daughters. "My mother was very keen that I join a good school and receive proper education," recalls Kusuma, speaking of the many sacrifices her parents made.

During her final year of college, a mentor program organized at Christel House by Dell opened new avenues. During discussions with the IT heads of the firm, Kusuma expressed her desire to work for a similar organization. Soon, she was called for an interview, which she aced. Kusuma joined Dell's performance-testing team as a trainee on April 1, 2016. Kusuma noted, "I'm enjoying the experience. There is so much to learn and explore. My mentors are always willing to teach me."

The only engineer in her family, Kusuma derives satisfaction from being able to support her family. "It's not important what background you come from. If you are determined to succeed, you can do wonders. The key is not to be negative about the prevailing circumstances," she said.

Kusuma's story proves yet again that, given the right encouragement, most children can rise above the ordinary and reach for the stars. This daughter of a taxi driver has shown the path for disadvantaged children. These children need to be told that they shouldn't be cowed down by their situation and make the most of the support that their parents and NGOs provide. There are many opportunities in the big, wide world and opening their eyes to them is the least that people around them can do. Beyond that, it's the kids' hard work which will see them become achievers.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Cabbies-daughter-lands-a-job-in-Dell/articleshow/51987524.cms

Your support of Christel House is making an enormous difference in the lives of our students. Kusuma wanted to express her gratitude: “Thank you for helping me see that I can be anything I want to be. I have dreams and aspirations and I will achieve them.” Thank you for your generosity.

Kusuma, Christel House India-Bangalore graduate

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Feb 12, 2016
The Power of Your Investment

By Aubrey Merki | Manager, Annual Fund

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