OVERVIEW
This is the third of a five year project which will establish a government-accredited primary school in a snake charmers’ community and pay a decreasing amount of the school’s running costs each year until the school becomes self-sufficient. Children in this community do not currently attend school and their families are desperate to provide them with an education. The school will be an English language school further opening up opportunities for the students.
WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT IT
The men in this community are the real drivers behind this project. They have sourced land for the school and the community leader is determined to ensure that all children attend class. We love the passion of these men to improve the lives of their children. We appreciate our partners thoroughness in planning from the beginning to register the school with the government, and to achieve financial sustainability.
BUDGET
The total budget over five years is $50,000, with the third year’s budget being $9,000. This will provide for rent for the school building, school uniforms, salaries for teachers and books and materials.
THE NEED
Snake charmers are members of the dalits, the untouchables, and live an extremely poor life. Now that snake charming is illegal, their main source of income has been shut off, further increasing their poverty. The children from the community are not welcome at other schools, nor can they afford the fees, so they spend their days just wandering around on the street. Without an education they have no chance to break the chains of inter-generational poverty.
LIFE CHANGE
