We believe that the greatest gift we can give to children of third world countries who are living in poverty is education. With a good standard of education the children of tomorrow with be able to secure worthwhile employment ensuring that one more family beats the poverty trap.
Each year there are up to 35 children studying in Starting Point School aged between 3 & 6 years.
Our aim is to provide these children with a standard of education that ensures they are capable of passing the entrance examination to one of the formal schools.
When they reach this stage we look for sponsors who will fund their formal schooling, which as from June 2019 amounts to £200 / £280 per year (midpoint £20 per month), depending on which school, distance to travel and whether the child needs additional tuition. This pays for everything the child will need including school fees, uniform, books, bus fares etc.
Those who sponsor these children will receive a photograph of the child each year together with a copy of their school reports (when available). In addition they may correspond with the child if they wish (although this does have its problems not least the erratic postal system) and if you should, as many do, go on holiday to Goa you will be encouraged to visit the child at and meet the family.
Sponsorship can be short or long term and we normally work on the basis of one sponsor per child but we do have occasions where a person would like to sponsor but finds £20 per month more than they can commit to. In these cases we allow two sponsors per child at a cost of £11 per sponsor.
We have succeeded in getting over eighty children through this process so far. Our eldest girl, Apika, gained a place at university and in July 2015 passed her final examinations and is now a junior doctor working in the main hospital in Goa. A further 10 students are attending university or taking their ‘A’ level equivalents. This shows that they may come from very poor families and live in the slums but they have the same capabilities as children from prosperous families.
If you would like to help us with this scheme please complete a standing order, and Gift Aid form (if applicable) and return it to us with an indication that you wish to sponsor a child’s education. We will process your standing order and retain your information until we are be able to provide you with details of the successful children and where possible we will give you an opportunity to choose a child but as this is done on a ‘first come first served’ basis the last child will be allocated.
There may be occasions where a child ‘drops out’ of school or the family move to a different location and if this were to happen you would be notified and offered another child to sponsor.
Thank you for considering this worthwhile scheme.