There are 107 Good Shepherd schools scattered around the whole of India. As you can imagine, the “classroom” in a GS school can look very different from school to school, state to state, community to community. We wanted to give you a peek into a few of the different faces of GS classrooms.
Although the classrooms vary dramatically, you will notice one constant in each one: Dalit children being given a chance at a new life through education. We are so grateful to the teachers and other staff members at each and every one of our schools, who choose to show up and teach these children, whether in a s modern classroom, or a refurbished chicken coop classroom.
Will you partner with us this month to get more Dalit children into the classroom this year?
SLUM SCHOOLS
Slum schools are located in major cities with a large population of Dalits. They are all a little different. Some provide classes up through 5th standard, and one slum school goes through 10th standard (the equivalent of 12th grade here in the states). In addition to their education the school provides a safe place for children and prepares them to enter public school with confidence. In large part the number of grades/classes depends on the space available. We are always looking to expand as much as finances, staffing and space allows. We have 5 slum schools at this time.
VILLAGE SCHOOLS
Village schools are the most common with just under 100 all over India. These are the schools that are started in former school buildings, or other rented facilities available in the community. One school is actually on a former chicken farm. The classrooms used to be chicken coops! These schools start out with 4 classrooms and we aim to add one classroom per year. Village schools come in all shapes and sizes.
FLAGSHIP SCHOOLS
“Flagship” is a term we use internally to describe the schools that are exemplary of what we hope to see each school become; fully constructed (with classrooms through 10th standard as well as libraries, computer labs and other extracurricular support rooms), top rated in the state, and fully funded. There are 3 of these schools at the moment.
No matter what kind of school, what kind of classroom, these kids have a space to learn and dream about a future of freedom and hope. They are treated with dignity and respect as they should be. These classrooms are sacred spaces and we long to see more and more children have access to an education like this. Will you join us in making a difference?
10,000 Reasons
The global Dalit Freedom Network has been challenged to free 5,000 children in 2015. 5,000! If we do it, every dollar we raise will be matched by a donor once the funds reach India. This means 10,000 children will have the opportunity to get the education they need to change their future! Fresh Start is a significant opportunity for us to start strong.
