So much happens in a year in the company of children. Joy and worry come with bringing them up, and many beautiful memories are created as we try to make their dreams a reality.
This past year was an exceptionally exciting time for Shanti Bhavan. Among the many highlights, I would like to share three very special ones with you.
First is the July opening of the second Shanti Bhavan school near Bangalore. This new campus welcomed 60 preschool and kindergarten children from some of the poorest families in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. Five months have already passed since their arrival, and it is heartwarming to see them settle into their new surroundings and move about with self-confidence and curiosity.
The second highlight of 2024 is that all our recent graduates have joined top colleges—Christ University in Bangalore, Duke University in Durham, Princeton University in Princeton, and Swarthmore College in Swarthmore. Equally noteworthy, Yeshwini has just completed her Master’s in Economics and International Relations at the University of Chicago, and Vijay and Bhuvaneshwari have started their master’s at UC Berkeley and Carnegie Mellon, respectively. They are among the many Shanti Bhavan students studying in India, the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Never in the academic history of India have so many children of poor backgrounds from any school accomplished so much. They will be among tomorrow’s changemakers.
Last, but far from least, is the academic performance of the children at Shanti Bhavan. With improved educational support—including more teachers—the children are performing better than ever before. We expect them to score above 90% in the 10th and 12th grade board examinations, and all are striving for this goal.
There is much more to tell you, but hopefully, these accomplishments assure you that Shanti Bhavan is accomplishing its mission of offering the best opportunity to children from the poorest circumstances. Your support has allowed us to fulfill this mission for the past 27 years, and I am most grateful for your kindness.
Shanti Bhavan is in a galvanizing stage of growth, and there is so much more to do. Together, we will continue to lift families from poverty and impact society. I hope you will again extend your generosity to this noble cause by donating as you are able to.
