Archive for September, 2009

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HELP?: Super! A worthy organisation doing work where its
really needed!

(Luckbir Bring, Lamdon Model School, Tikse, Ladakh: 2009)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HELP?: Very good - doing a meaningful job in a small and personal way.
(Anne Summers, Nachyo Pauwa primary school, Nepal: 2009)

Until recently, we have sought sponsors for students of all ages, from kindergarten upwards.

From now on I want to focus our efforts on helping older students with  academic potential through their final two years of secondary school, and beyond  to higher education. The costs are much greater than for the younger school  children, but the sponsorship periods are shorter, so the long term cost to the  sponsor should still be affordable.

The reason for this change of policy is that  most young children these days can get to primary school, whereas very few can  afford to go on to higher education. A student passing successfully through  college and emerging with a useful vocational or academic qualification can make  a huge difference to the well-being of his or her extended family, as well as  make a significant contribution to the development of their country. Basic  literacy is also vital, but literacy levels are increasing in Nepal and India,  and I think there is less need for HELP to focus on this now.

The first student we are helping under this new dispensation is Chandraman  Tamang. The following details can also be found on the website. He is a  successful student who has managed to pass the entrance test for a three-year  Radiography course at the Martyr Memorial Institute of Science and Technology in  Patan, Nepal, while coping with the care of his ailing brother who has recently  died of cancer. He is one of only 30 students who will be accepted onto the  course, provided he can find the funds to pay for the fees, books and uniform.  The family is absolutely broke having spent all their meagre resources on  medical expenses incurred by Chandraman’s brother. His father is  a taxi driver,  and the family live in a rented mud house.The course begins this October and to ensure that he doesn’t lose the  opportunity to take it, I have used HELP general project funds to cover the  first year expenses. However, I am looking for a sponsor to cover all three  years, so that I can eventually return this money  to the projects budget.

Can you help, I wonder? If so, please have a look at the relevant page of the HELP website: http://www.help-education.org/students.html to see how you can sponsor him.