NEWSFLASH!

Victor says it is so very hot. He can't remember it being so hot in the last 5 years.The children have to stay indoors and cant go ourside until 5pm. I assume school is cancelled as this normal in very hot weather.
Victor says that 45 people have died of heat stroke in Vizianagaram district.

The children will be given special dehydrating fluid drinks every hour.

                             The first mangoes are ready at Shanti Nivas!

A boy called Rambabu

Ram Babu is a complete orphan and was found, three years ago, by our survey team, of doctor, pastor and outreach worker. His parents had died of HIV/AIDs and although he did not know it at the time Ram Babu had also been infected from birth. He was living in a very small  village with a distant relative who was completely blind and unable to work. All his life he has  lived in a very sad circumstances and in a poor environment.  There was no one to look after him or help them as everyone in their village were daily labours and whatever they earned was barely enough for their own families. 

Despite all these hardships, of going hungry and frequently feeling unwell, Rambabu continued to go to school. At least he was assured of a free dinner at school, in term time, because  he qualified  under the government's free school meal provision for the very poorest of children.  He completed High School in May 2011 and had passed his 10th class exams.

Brighter Future's staff found him in July 2011. They took him to the testing centre and he was confirmed as having HIV. The staff brought him to Karuna Nivas, ART treatment was started and Rambabu was put on a protein rich diet with extra vitamins and supplements. He was also tested for TB and found to have that too. The next step was to  enroll him at the local government college to do Intermediate 10+2  in Civics, economics and commerce . Rambabu passed these exams and in 2013,then aged 19, he started a Commerce degree course.

Rambabu's  health has improved, although he is small for his age. He  is a very helpful boy, assisting the other Karuna Nivas children with their studies. He also keeps the Finding and Feeding project statistics onto the Karuna Nivas computer which we bought for him to use. As the oldest child at Karuna Nivas he is a big brother to the children, a very special relationship in Indian culture.

We would like to find someone, or a group of people, to sponsor Rambabu to enter the second year of his B.Commerce degree. This degree will enable him to apply for employment as, for example, a bank clerk. Each year of study costs approximately £500 and includes text books. Rambabu has endured so much hardship in his 20 years, he has persevered with his determination to get an education. He has continued  his studies despite all the problems that life has thrown at him.

Please help Brighter Future to help him.  
Great news!
A gentleman, who last helped Brighter Future in 2011, has given £250 towards Ram Babu's education. Thank you Mr N!

Searching for sponsors for four young people who would like to do advanced science subjects.

Of the twelve students who want to go onto the equivalent of A levels I find it very  heartwarming that 10 of them want to do science subjects. Maths physics and chemistry or biology, physics, chemistry. 

Tenth class exam candidates 2014

Perhaps it is because  I wanted to do sciences? Being practically blind, only getting specs three months before the mock exams,  and tall so that I was put at the back of the class, my maths let me down. It was not until I went to night school, having convinced myself that I was not really stupid,  and joined  a class of 18 year olds doing retakes, that I managed to get  my O level maths at the age of 46! I went to college again at 56 but that's another story.

When I am in India, usually at Prem Nivas,  the only subjects that I can teach are Maths and English. I had to learn numbers in Telugu - thankfully much easier for me than the very long words in that language ! Going into class I would ask the children what they would like to do and all ages request " leker" - maths!

Some of our sponsors and donors may remember how difficult it was to find a school to take our HIV infected children, or even get a teacher to come to work for us. The children were refused places at all the local schools for three years running. Eventually we had to open our own Primary school.We gave a talk at the local High school, to the teachers and children, and after that had no trouble getting the seniors admitted. Groups of high school girls also  came to play with our children, bringing them fruit and playing games with them. 

Some of our Prem Nivas children, like Janaki, had never been school. They were not admitted if it was known that a parent had died of HIV/AIDS and those already in school were asked to leave if HIV was suspected. Consequently many of our  children have been put in a class according to their completed school years and not according to their age. Very frustrating for a large 17 year old to be in the class of 14/15 yrs olds. 

The children  at the Rainbow Home, from leprosy colonies, were often unable to go to school because the poverty of their parents  necessitated an itinerant life of begging at temples, stations and in large towns. Others could not make the  journey from the colony on the outskirts to the school in town.

It is wonderful that our children have overcome all these disadvantages of their  birth and health, and the pain and stigma of exclusion.  Our children value the opportunity to study that being at Brighter Future has given them,

We feel it is our duty to try and find people who can offer those who are capable, and willing to make the commitment, the chance to go onto tertiary education. 

Brighter Future is looking for people or organisations, companies or church groups to offer  a  scholarships to one of  our young people. If you know of anyone or any organisation that might help please give us an introduction.

Inter college students get their results.

Intermediate College courses cost £250 and university courses about £500. Of course uniforms, books and other additional costs have to be covered too. College lasts for two years and a degree will take four years. 

 There is also a need for vocational training for our children who are not academically inclined. Plumbers and electricians are always in demand. Brighter Future would like to start a pilot training centre  as we have several charming 16 and 17 year old boys at Prem Nivas who are due to leave school next May. The initial cost of such a project would cost at least £5000 to  set up.