Today I had the chance to meet two wonderful, friendly and smart young men; Satwant and Amit.
They started off at Buddhas Smile School when they were both very young. Throughout the years my host Rajan continued to encourage them to stay in school, provide them with meals, clothing and funding from donors so that they could stay in school. Not only did they finish grade 12, but they also scored well enough on their final exams so they could apply to college. Both of them got accepted to the Pandian Saraswathi Yadav Engineering College!!! Rajan was able to find donors to fund their tuition, living expenses, books and all other fees. She has been a angel to them.
The school is 50 hours away by train and will be a world of difference from what they are used to but they were so excited to have a new start. As they were saying good bye to their families, I could see the nerves and emotion start to set in as they looked worried. Although not socially accepted, I shook both their hands and told them that everyone is proud of what they are doing. As the bus drove away their families stood with us watching them leave to pave the path for a brighter future. These are the first children from Buddhas Smile School that have gone on to college and there are already four children who will be eligible to follow in their footsteps next year.
The children from this area have so much working against them; poverty, crime, forced marriage, high cost of education, parents who are absent or not supportive but Rajan and her school provide each student who comes here with a chance to alter their path to a life of opportunity.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
― Nelson Mandela
They started off at Buddhas Smile School when they were both very young. Throughout the years my host Rajan continued to encourage them to stay in school, provide them with meals, clothing and funding from donors so that they could stay in school. Not only did they finish grade 12, but they also scored well enough on their final exams so they could apply to college. Both of them got accepted to the Pandian Saraswathi Yadav Engineering College!!! Rajan was able to find donors to fund their tuition, living expenses, books and all other fees. She has been a angel to them.
The school is 50 hours away by train and will be a world of difference from what they are used to but they were so excited to have a new start. As they were saying good bye to their families, I could see the nerves and emotion start to set in as they looked worried. Although not socially accepted, I shook both their hands and told them that everyone is proud of what they are doing. As the bus drove away their families stood with us watching them leave to pave the path for a brighter future. These are the first children from Buddhas Smile School that have gone on to college and there are already four children who will be eligible to follow in their footsteps next year.
The children from this area have so much working against them; poverty, crime, forced marriage, high cost of education, parents who are absent or not supportive but Rajan and her school provide each student who comes here with a chance to alter their path to a life of opportunity.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
― Nelson Mandela
Hi Lisa!!! How wonderful!! God Bless them both on their wonderful journey! The families must be so nervous but proud at the same time. Thank you for sharing! Sincerely, Tom, Sandra and Monty.
ReplyDeleteThank you :) It was a beautiful moment!
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