What We Do

The Trust raises funds in the UK to buy land and build much needed additional primary school classrooms for the Panchayat Union Middle School in Kovalam, to improve facilities and to provide educational supplies and uniforms.

All money raised through friends, events and publicity goes to the work of the Trust; there are no deductions for administrative or professional fees or visits to Kovalam to monitor progress. These are met by the trustees.

The Panchayat Union Middle School is a free, but very underfunded, State primary school for children from kindergarten age to 12 years old. It has 260 pupils and six teachers and until we became involved it had only the most basic of facilities. Where needed, the Trust subsidises teachers' salaries and arranges through sponsorships to help support children from some of the poorest families in the village.

About Kovalam

Kovalam is a poor village some 40 kms south of Chennai. Alas, its economy does not reflect the beauty of its situation on the Coromandel Coast and most of its 6,000 inhabitants eke out a living in very poor conditions. The village relies almost entirely on fishing for its livelihood and the average daily wage is about £1 a day for an unskilled worker and £2.30 for a bricklayer or similar craftsman.