They will get by with a little help from their friends..

As many of you know the Karnataka State Board SSLC results were out on 24th of April and as usual ILP has its share of success stories about the children in the Puraskara (scholarship) program.

This year 33 of the scholarship recipients appeared for the SSLC exams. 'G' from Bangalore tops the list with a distinction-87.68%. Due to financial difficulties at home, 'G' had almost dropped out of school after her 7th standard to work with her mother as a domestic worker. With financial support from ILP's Puraskara initiative and encouragement from a local NGO, 'G' resumed school full time. She would now like to pursue her diploma in Computer Science. 'P', who worked in a bakery and distributed newspapers, 'K who sold flower garlands, 'V' who worked in the cotton fields in Raichur, 'S' who grazed cattle in Davangere have all similar stories of their journey from hardship to success. Today they are amongst the 10 students who have achieved a first class.

ILP's Puraskara initiative identifies such deserving children and provides them scholarships to continue their high school as well as guidance in their studies and post 10th careers. ILP thanks all its supporters especially MAD@HP, Diksha Trust and Sonim Technologies, Bangalore for their contributions during the academic year 2006-07.

But our task does not end when these children complete 10th. Our volunteers in Bangalore resemble anxious parents, getting application forms from colleges, caste and income certificates, applying for scholarships and counseling them on what courses are best. 'G' will apply for the Diploma course at SJPU, Polytechnic Bangalore and stands a good chance to get it. 'K' who wants to become a lawyer has applied to Seshadripuram college. 'S' and 'B' want to pursue B.Com. We are assisting the rural children from Davangere and Raichur to apply for the Toyota Technical Training Course in Bidadi.

All these children also need financial support to pursue their post-10th education. Our objective is to see that no child is left behind. And as always we know we can count on all of you to assist them.

If you would like to support the post 10th education of these children, you could send your contributions to 'India Literacy Project' , No. 27, 2nd Cross Ramakrishnappa Layout, 3rd Floor Narayani Apartments, Geddalahalli, Sanjaynagar, Bangalore 560094;Tel:080-23519693. You will be eligible for a tax-deduction under the 80G section and we will send you an update on how your funds were utilized.
-Sindhu