Preparing our Children as a New School Year Dawns Education in India isn’t a right. It’s a privilege—for a privileged few. That is because it is so expensive. It is certainly not something orphans and homeless children can afford. Even children in poor families cannot attend as their parents average wages are $2 per day. Parents of such children are spending 75% of their daily earnings on food, leaving little for the “luxury” of education. In the US, the average student requires about $500 in “back-to-school” clothes, books and supplies. In India, we can send each of our children back to school for $50 each. Of course, this is above and beyond their monthly support. Our Mission of Joy “family” just happens to be a little larger than most! We have about 200 children that begin school in the month of July. Our cost to outfit them and provide them books and school supplies runs about $10,000. If you are not a sponsor, would you would help us underwrite the costs of a child without a sponsor? If you are a sponsor, we would ask that you assist us in sending your sponsor child back for another year of schooling. Education is the one path an impoverished child can hope to cross the class-lines that are so rigid in India. If they learn English and excel in their studies, they can apply and be hired for work as adults that will lift them out of poverty. The Bible tells us that when we give to the poor we lend to the Lord. What a blessing it is to lend our resources to the Lord! Thank you for sharing in this opportunity to give the gift of learning!
