Updates

Dear Supporters and Friends:

Here is it almost August. I look forward to my return to India in early August. A busy schedule awaits as well as anxious and happy students.

Everything is going well with our students. The new school year began for all. The last and final admission was Ravi who will study for a BCom (business commerce) degree at a good college in Hyderabad and live at the apartment.  He started his classes this Monday. He will have an hour bus trip each way each day. The six others at the apartment have bus trips of an hour or more. Venu is the only one who can actually walk to and from his college. Bus monthly passes are now up to $10 per month.

We have  three students in their final degree year and three who are in their final year of graduate school. This is a very important year for these six especially. It is remarkable that we have seen these students through at least 15 years of education (10 elementary, two Plus Two, and three degree, and in case of the graduate students two additional). Graduate students get 50% of their tuitions and fees from us and make arrangements for the rest from other sources. Degree and below get 100% of their tuition and fees.  Their families pay their allowances when possible and transportation to and from home. Since all of our students come from very low income families they help as they can but it is limited at best with daily wage at $1.50US.

I am happy to report that we have a wonderful group who are commitment to their studies and have all done very, very well and are a great credit to themselves, to our program, and to their families. We have several students now working and beginning to pay back to the program. It is a small amount at first as they have to get settled and make all the needed adjustments but these amounts will continue to grow.

So the stories continue. When I return most of the fees and tuitions will be due and payable. If we delay payment becasue of inadequate funds we then pay penalties which add to the costs unnecessarily when we are already short. We hope and trust that you will continue your support and make a donation at this time in order to close the gap for these deserving and needy young people.

IGE is organizing and convening a Consortium launch on Embracing and Empowering Education. It will be held at Martin Luther University in Shillong (northeast India) November 6-8. You are invited to attend and participate. I f you want further information please let me know. Be assured that this effort is independently funded and we do not use any scholarship monies. We are, however, accepting donations for the Consortium separately.

Please continue to keep our students and IGE on your radar in your thoughts, prayers and with your donations and love.

Richard (aka Grandpa)

Dear Supporters, friends and family:

I am in Northridge, California at the home of Board member  Wanda Pierkarski.  I talk to our students in  India daily thanks to free pc to pc and sometimes we see each other via webcam. All are very busy with internal exams and some even with final exams. Most will have their final exams in March and April except the engineering students who have finals in May. Of course, the final tuitions and fees for the school year are all due within the next month.

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It was a bright and beautiful day. By 2:00 pm all the chairs were filled and hundreds were standing. It was a joyful celebration of Ruth’s (Granny’s) life. There was deep emotion but the tears dried and there was laughter and singing. Her favorite song “Amazing Grace” filled the air in both English and Telugu. The fifteen speakers were all mercifully short (average five minutes) and were students and former teachers who went to school under Ruth as well as community, tribal and political leaders. We had Christian, Muslin and Hindu participation.

I was thoughtful when one speaker referred to Ruth as Mucherla’s Mother Theresa. I cut the ribbon, by request, and the senior most security official (a two star commander) pulled the curtain to unveil the pillar with Ruth’s photo etched into the five foot black marble plaque along with her now famous Nine Rules of Granny. Because we were on high security alert in the area due to Naxlites and strikes across the state demanding a new state, we had twelve fully armed police officers. This is a state requirement for gatherings of this type at present in the district. This attachment of security with the addition of twelve ministers made a full house of protection.

There were tons of flowers, including lots of roses and marigolds, which were her favorites. For many it was a pilgrimage. Many had spent hours on the train or bus to be there. The outpouring of caring, remembrance and devotion was inspiring and very moving.

I closed the three hour program by holding up an original drawing of hibiscus that Ruth drew while at the school in March 1996. She had written on the photo “I am happy to be here! It is another home for me”.  Her ashes now rest in that home for all time.

Richard