Goals for 2009 – Rise Up India School

We have many goals for the RISE UP INDIA School but our main goal is to add a second story to the existing building. And with the magic of Photo Shop we can see what we’re shooting for.

(Before) Existing School building

(After) Future school with two stories

Hey that two story building looks pretty good. The existing one story school gets a lot of use. It is a village center and has a good reputation. The second story will allow for four more classrooms and give the orphans a room of their own that doesn’t need to be converted back and forth each day from bedroom to classroom and back. The proposed addition is estimated to cost about $17,000. In addition to the second story it will probably be necessary to purchase a generator (electricity, if available, is on maybe 3 to 6 hours per day and then the voltage is quite variable). The generator is necessary to pump water into the roof tanks (imagine 80 students spending the day at school with no water, it gets stinky). Four more classrooms will require four more teachers. We also want to get a couple more computers (laptops). We are hoping someone out here will be willing to donate some old ones. The orphans, as they grow up, will leave our school (we go to 5th grade). Government schools are a really poor option. Sheri and Curtis are currently sponsoring two of the orphans at a quality private school. This costs about $350 dollars per year. (Imagine: books, tuition, uniforms, transportation, everything for $350 dollars! This makes a huge difference in the life of an orphan)(FYI public expenditure per student in Bend=$8000; in Oregon=$10,000). And of course we need money just to keep things going on a day to day basis. Our teachers and staff are working for rock bottom salaries ($25 to $40 per month). They are doing their part in really hard conditions. Please remember if you donate there is no middle-man. The money contributed goes straight to the school (hey, its tax deductible too). And believe you me money goes a long way in India.

Please consider donating, or attending one of our Rise UP India events. Cheers and thanks.

Young student standing in front of her house in Bashardi Village