Taking stock

Lately, all we seem to do is run run run... And the work is still not done.
I seem to be seeking new people to sponsor the kids, while H seems to be running around meeting the students, their parents, teachers, wardens...

It was time to take stock. And we did. We found that we had touched 40 lives in the past year alone!!!!!!!

School students (11 - 10 girls, 1 boy):
Several surprises... 10 of them were school students, a group we did not plan on touching at all. But somehow, when parents and students ask for help to get a child into school, it seems impossible to say no. In the case of five students, the support has been minimal -- between Rs 400 - 500. They are all girls, living in small hamlets far from high school facilities. They all wanted help with travel, fees and basic necessities to prepare them for hostel life. We did it -- another need met.

Four other girls were in need of more urgent intervention. It has been chronicled last month...

One boy was all set to drop out as he had no "home" to stay in. He has now been put in a hostel, and a relative of his will be supporting him indirectly through the trust. We have paid his expenses now, a similar amount will be donated to the trust by his relative.

One girl is being supported for more than a year. She was a drop out, due to sickness and poverty. Now she is back in school, enjoying life. Her brothers take care of her, we help out when required. Her smile is enough to pick us all up! Somehow, she makes it worthwhile to beg!!!

ITI (5 students - all boys):
Three children from Ramapura in Kollegal taluk have joined ITI in Kollegal. It broke my heart that a student with 94% in one subject in PUC Commerce should go for ITI where the marks are not even considered. But that's what he chose to do. Do I dare to say I know better?

One more tribal boy (working in Bangalore), who has not found his niche also decided to join ITI in Bangalore. He has to continue supporting his parents and family. I have to find him some work that brings in enough money to keep his home fires burning... Washing cars, perhaps? 1 car @ 350 per month. 10 cars @ 3,500 per month. That's his current salary. And it takes just 2-3 hours each morning, whereas the job takes all day.

One finishes his course this year. A spunky kid with loads of initiative. We had to crack down on him for his initiative! Awaiting his successful graduation!

Degree (6 students - five boys, one girl):
Three in Bangalore, two in Mysore, one in Ponnampet... Three will graduate this year. Awaiting results, thinking of further studies (MA, B.Ed, MSW, Law) vs jobs.

BEd, DEd (5 students - all boys):
Right now, five students... The fifth one called today! Child labourer, behind his classmates by four years, as he spent more than three years working in an estate, herding cows. He was rescued in a media blitz and then resumed his Std 5, and graduated four years behind his contemporaries. Needs money for food to complete his course. About Rs 350 per month, he estimates. Do I dare turn him down? No.

Nursing (one boy):
He is an efficient boy who does his work and calls once in a while to inform us about how he is doing.

Diploma (4 students - all boys):
Three in Mysore, one in Melkote.

Law (1):
He is in his final year. Somehow, he is critical to us as he got Kanasu Trust started. Have to meet him and discuss his future.

PUC (7 students - 2 boys, one girl, rest pending):
One in Kamagere, one in Bangalore, one in Odeyarpalya, the rest in Yelandur.

That's our 40 for now. Now I understand why it seemed like a Herculean task over the past couple of months. There was just no time to mentor them. Need to strategise the financial aspects so that there is some time for mentoring too. Need to find more mentors as well... And miles to go before I sleep...