Annual Reports

INSTITUTE OF GLOBAL EDUCATION

Annual Report of the Chief  Executive Officer to the Board of  Directors
For the period May 1, 2007 to April 1, 2008

Our work in India began on August 1, 1994  when Ruth arrived in Mucherla and opened Mucherla Global School five days later. The school opened with enthusiasm, inspiration, high idealism and much goodwill. Ruth had made a life changing move at age 65 to new horizons, new visions and new service.  She wrote the curriculum, developed the ideals of the world core curriculum into workable day to day studies, and experimented with many educational tools and activities to make them relevant and useful in a foreign culture. The school became an immediate success in every respect and flourished dynamically in every way.  Over the next six years the school grew from 22 to 150 students. Ruth had left an incredible, lasting legacy when she died on January 3, 2000.

I was left to carry her work on into the future and there was never a moment of doubt in my mind that I would accept this challenge. Little did I realize the enormity of the task and responsibility that I was undertaking, or the many challenges, opportunities, joys, downsides and disappointments I would endure and live through. I arrive in 2008 with profound gratitude, with a deep sense of awe for the outpouring of love, support, growth and development of our students. It did not happen quickly, but rather was slow, steady and always evolving in mysterious and wondrous ways. After the loss of the school in 2003, we were provided with equal or greater opportunities to serve, encourage and help these wonderful young people to realize their potential, break through the economic and social barriers that bound them tightly, move toward independence and to create a strong, enduring bridge to their futures.

In 2007 we saw our first students graduate from college with degrees: Pavani, Hazrath and Jacob Dilip. This was an astounding success for them and for us. It was literally a dream that came true. It was not an easy mountain to climb but these young people climbed it together and we handed them a rope as needed and with unconditional love always. All three are now in graduate school. Five students graduated this year with college degrees: Saritha (she will take her finals in September), David, Veeranagulu, Vijay and William. Two graduated from the all important Tenth Level: Sravani and Ravi. Ravi is the last student that Ruth accepted into Mucherla Global School the day before she left for the last time.

On a personal note, I developed a rotor cuff tear for unknown reasons which required several weeks of physical therapy.  Then I had a fall while in Portland for the Board meeting last year. It eventually led to an open cholecystectomy where gangrene was discovered and required eleven days in the hospital. This delayed my second return to India by two months.

I went to Delhi by invitation in early December to speak at the “Peace Education for all India Conference”. The work of Leban Serto came out of the Hague Appeal for Peace in The Netherlands in 1999. More than a dozen national organizations were involved, mostly from north India. We made many new friends.

Then later in December when Eleanor and Peter Schaffer visited, we were honored with them in six tribal villages. We travelled 1,094 miles in four days to visit these remote villages, one without electricity.  Eleanor and Peter sponsored a Christmas party and banquet which was another first for many of our students. Their visit was clearly the highlight of the year of many highlights. Previously in the year, I visited many tribal villages and there were seven festivals in my honor.

We had another year of heavy medical expenses and medical emergencies. We had nothing quite as bad as Ravi’s typhoid fever the year before, but did have five cases of typhoid fever and two confirmed cases of malaria. No one who was immunized for malaria the year before got it, however.  Three students had to be hospitalized for periods up to a week. Three students had to have exams and new eye glasses and three others had to have serious dental work.

We did serious work on the development of the educational consortium. We had several meetings in Hyderabad and enlisted the cooperation of  Dr. C. Rao, who served UNESCO for many years.  Dr. Rao has a large and incredibly successful social and housing organization and is on a number of national boards. We also enlisted Kim Reddy, thanks to a connection of  Eleanor Schaffer, who directs his own large IT and came out of the Pondicherry and Aurobindo experience.

Bernard Gross completed the draft business plan for the Aquapac Project. There is a great deal of general interest, however, we now need a few serious investors as well as the finalization and implementation of the business plan. The holder of the patent is ready to move ahead and we are challenged to keep pace. Everyone agrees that the Aquapac will save lives, many lives. Ask Eleanor and Peter Schaffer and you will get  resounding agreement for the need and you will feel their enthusiasm for the project.

My apartment in Vijayawada became a dormitory for seven students. With the ever increasing costs of hostels we needed to save money as well as provide  more independent living, especially for our graduating students, who have lived all their years under strict and often unreasonable rules and regulations. The boys do the food shopping and all the cooking. They have become excellent cooks. We do provide a housekeeper and washer woman (which I would have anyway). We have daily family meetings, whether I am there are not, which resolve things before they become issues and creates a truly family atmosphere.

One important problem that continues to squeeze us in many ways is the declining exchange rate of the US dollar. One year ago we were still getting 45, 46, and even 47 on occasion, rupees per dollar. This has fallen to an average of 38 rupees per dollar and has fallen as low as 37. Added to this blow is the 6.5 and 7.1 percent inflation rates in India. Tuition and hostels fees went up by an average of 15% the past academic year along with a rise in staple food prices such as rice and vegetables.  In 2007 we raised more money in donations than we have in five years and at the same time had less to actually spend. There is no answer to this situation but to raise additional funds to compensate for the declining dollar.

We need to strengthen the sponsorship program and bring in additional donations. Eleanor has done a herculean job of raising funds for scholarships and Eleanor and Peter have gone the extra mile time and time again. Ray Civello, Douglas and Karen Schneider, Richard Schiffman, and the World Service Association have also gone the extra mile. Our faithful monthly donors deserve equal credit and commendation. The fact remains that we have several approved students without sponsors which puts serious pressure on the overall budget. It will be another year before graduating students begin paying back to the scholarship fund. There are no easy answers but it will take commitment, effort and dollars to close the gap.

David will go to Canada for a year of training and enrichment. In Canada, Dorothy’s group known as the World Service Association, has chosen to pick up this project. I realize that at 73 I must begin to think in terms of continuity and begin the turnover to the next generation.  This doesn’t mean that there is an immediate plan for my departure, but that there is recognition and effort to assure the program success well into the future.

There are serious and important decisions to be made in the more immediate future. We have two students graduating from Tenth Level and need a further educational plan. One should go to the USA or Canada. Then there are four completing Plus Two. Two want to go into engineering, one to biotechnology school and one to business school. Three will get college degrees next spring. Some of the degree graduates want to go on to graduate school.

We have created success for these students. We need to continue to stand by them. Education is the great and, in fact, the only real leveller in India. Our graduates have broken through generations of social downcast. They have broken through the stigma of class, caste and economic deprivation. We simply must assure that they are enabled to pursue their chosen paths and become all they were meant to be.

We have succeeded beyond our dreams. Now we must finish the course with each one in their time. The CEO, the Board and our supporters still have work to do. The future leadership of India are now preparing for their future careers and service. They still need our hand to hold at times, have our financial support, our steadfast belief in them, and our love and service to each of them.

Respectfully submitted, F. Richard Schneider, CEO

Institute of Global Education

Annual Report of the Chief Executive Officer to the Board of Directors
For the period May 1, 2006 to April 30, 2007

It was a seminal year, an apex year, a year of challenges and opportunities and multiple successes with a cloud or two. After fifteen years in India we graduated the first students with degrees. They had started with us  in grade one in 1992. Pavani, Hazrath and Dilip (aka Jacob) crossed the milestone with distinction. All three want to do post graduate work. All started with Granny (Ruth) and I am sure she is smiling with the success and achievement of these young people who are now educated, wonderful adults.

I spent a total of eight months in India this year. We started the new school year last June. We had four students in elementary/high school, three in intermediate one, three in degree one, eight in degree two, and four in degree three. All but one did exceptional and were a great credit to themselves, their families and the scholarship program. At least ten were “toppers” meaning they were at the top of their classes academically. As I have reported before, not a single one of these deserving and wonderful young people would have been in school at all without the scholarship program. Rajini began a two year nursing residency after completing her three year preparation. It is still true that the only way for these students to rise about their caste and social status is education in India. Most of our students are BC (Backward Class) or tribal and are still required to use these terms on applications and various forms. Change is coming, but at a glacial rate. Education is still the modifier.

We had another year of medical emergencies which devastated the health budget. As all of you know, we almost lost Ravi to typhoid fever and we had three other cases of typhoid fever as well which required hospitalization for two.  We had no malaria as we had had all the Vijayawada students given the three dose immunization series last December. Actually, in spite of everything, we had a much healthier year especially in regard to a low incidence of flu, fevers and infections.

Four students lived at the apartment. We have 14 students in Vijajawada and the rest in Khammam. All visited regularly and the young women came from Khammam for two day stays at least twice. I also visited them as often as I was able to go to Kahammam which is a three four train ride from Vijayawada. Our graduating degree students moved toward greater independence. The number at the apartment increased to five as the new school year begins. Those living at the apartment genuinely love it. They have all learned to cook and become much more responsible and self sufficient. They did complain about cooking until they became adapt at it and then liked it as they then could make many choices of their own. Our apartment has three bedrooms, two bathrooms (one Indian style and one western style), three balconies and a large living-dining room and a kitchen. We have a donated refrigerator and donated two burner bottled gas stove. The rent is 3,800 rupees per month (about$70US). Someday, air conditioning, when it gets past 105F degrees, would be nice. Also a rice cooker.

There was lots of monitoring of students’ academic work which  became much less as the year worn on. There were numerous parent meetings, school activities to attend, special programs, invitations to speak, teachers meetings and planning sessions, and  numerous festivals and celebrations as well as the day to day living. My email is at epic portions but don’t stop as I much appreicate hearing from you.. There were 26 official holidays in this reporting period. Think of your students, or grandchildren, and multiply it by more than ten and you will understand the time involved.  I also did village work and made eight trips to tribal villages in four different areas. I spent six days in Pondicherry and Auroville working on a major project which I will detail at the meeting. I had an office at Modern Academy thanks to the gracious goodwill of S. Papa Rao, the President (and owner) of four universities. I also finally got broadband at the apartment which is very convenient and time saving.

The biggest challenge was the budget. I urgently request that this issue be given priority time to develop and implement a plan to avoid a future shortfalls. The costs in India have been spiraling up. The increase in hostel fees are up 25% and tuitions and fees are up 15%. This is due to the globalization of India and an inflation rate of more than 7%. This hits especially hard on low and middle income people. Village farmer parents, where most of our students come from, still earn less than $1 a day, and women even less. Some of these parents have not been able to even provide clothing and allowances to their children as they used to do. The US dollar is at a long time low against the Indian rupee. Where we used to get nearly 50 rupees to a $, we are now getting 42, and maybe 43 on a good day. This makes a big difference as the $ buys less when converted to rupees.

The next year is be a zenith year. We will graduate at least five degree students and two tenth level students next April. The costs for the final year are much higher and the exam fees double. In India, you pay exam fees separately as students have to go to government administered exam centers (from tenth level through degree) where all students take the same state final exams.

The students look forward to getting together, sharing and loudly proclaiming “We are One”, “We stand together” and “We are the future of India”. We had a birthday party and a going away party with lots of activities, games, snacks and many tears. All express much gratitude for the opportunities they have been given. Ravi, our self proclaimed spokesperson, said “Tell all our sponsors and the Board of Directors that we love them, appreciate them, and know we are what we are because of them”. The other day I saw him writing email thank yous to some of you as his own idea.

We are giving some leadership to improving the educational system from rote learning to thinking. There is some interest in India now in looking at the educational system and trying to begin the needed change.. It will not be an easy task to break through old ideas and traditions. I do think that the young people we are educating are the very best hope for the new India and the new way of thinking. They not only will have better lives but I have every reason to believe that they will give back to society. David (formerly known as Ramulu) is scheduled to go to Canada for a year after graduation next April. His leadership development will hopefully lead to a sucessor which has become his enthusiastic desire. As we do further outreach, I believe several of our present students will stay with us in important positions.  It has long been my desire to build our leadership from within and we are well on the way to doing just that. The creation of the consortium for better education will become a reality later this year with many already signed on, including several internationally known Indians.

I will give a full report separately on the aquabag project which now has substantial backing, both developmental and financial. The project will save many lives, especially young children, as well as provide for some self financing. There is huge and enthusiastic support for this project.

In August we celebrate our sixteenth year in India. More important than the years are the accomplishments in lives and the future that these young people now have as a result of our work. This has happened because of the sustained support, love and caring that you and our committed donors have given. Ravi is right in saying “What would we  be without all those wonderful people around the world who care about us?” The question answers itself in happy, dedicated, responsible, value oriented and educated students with a love for the earth, for India, and for each other, you and me, with a strong sense of global citizenship in their hearts and minds.