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For many thousands of children growing up in India's slums, just getting a foothold on the bottom rung of the educational ladder is difficult. But with that vital first step into learning and a lot of hard work, slum children can hope to realise their dream of a better life in India's rapidly changing society. In South West Delhi, the Saakshar non-formal education centre for slum children is helping hundreds of children onto the learning ladder.
I first heard about Vigyan Vijay Foundation's Saakshar project in 2003 and I was able to help people at Christ Church raise support for their work. I have been closely associated with Saakshar ever since. A generous gift enabled us to buy Saakshar's children a minivan which was delivered at the start of December 2009. Further donations were used to extend and develop Saakshar's work with slum children and we registered as a charity in the UK in 2010, enabling us to reclaim tax on donations through Gift Aid.
I have been privileged to visit Saakshar several times, most recently in March 2012 and I am always deeply moved by the joy and optimism of these children and their families, and overwhelmed to see the difference which Saakshar is making to their lives.
With the recession affecting many charities, we are now the largest supporter of Saakshar's work and our financial support is of vital importance for the children in the four small communities they serve. For more information please see the other pages here and the newsletter below.
Thank you to all who have supported Saakshar School Appeal in so many ways.
Ralph Williamson - April 2012
Saakshar 2 Children during Ralph's visit in March 2012.
Photo: Ralph Williamson
