Aims
To meet the educational needs of underprivileged children in India by providing education through the provision of suitable land and school buildings, teachers and equipment, transport and other such infrastructure required for the education of children aged 3 to 15 years.
What we do
To provide pre-schooling to underprivileged children by funding the provision of suitable education in existing school infrastructure (RTL sponsored schools) for age groups 3-15.
To develop such infrastructure as is needed to support these children’s education and to monitor their progress.
To provide any funding and counselling that may be required to ensure their continued educational success.
To develop funding methodologies and donor recruitment strategies which can grow rapidly and support the schooling provision.
History
Ann Mills, the Founder of Room to Learn, first travelled to India having volunteered to work in the Baptist Hospital in Bangalore and later moved to Assam helping at the Christian Guwahati Hospital.
During her visits to India, many families had become her friends, and her concern and love for these people grew. Finally, after retiring from the NHS, her burning desire was to help those Indians and Nepalese who were relegated to the bottom of their society by birth – known as the ‘untouchables’.
How could they escape from the chains that bound them? Ann decided that if she could provide a Nursery School and teachers, the little Dalit children could have a ‘head-start’ on the learning ladder. This would give them a fairer chance of success. Room to Learn was started on August 9th 2015.
Next Steps
When our children leave RTL after two years we help most of them to get places in the best local schools. Primarily these are St Philomena Girls School, Paramount Primary School, and a much smaller number to Kumudini Homes Boys School. We then monitor their progress.
St Philomena
Three photos taken by ChiChi & I on our visit.
St Philomena Girls School is led by Mother Superior Adrina Yonzon.
We were emotionally moved by St Philomena. It is a semi-state school (they charge a small additional annual fee and are managed by a board of Sisters). They educate 2400 girls, including provision for 340 hostel & orphan students. Their mission work is long-established and very impressive. We hadn’t intended to spend long there as we already knew of the amazing work being done, but it was simply breathtaking and moved us to tears. We prayed in the chapel and then re-joined Mother Superior. We left with hugs and farewells. We are not sure what the protocols are with Mother Superiors, but that is what happened!
Most, of our girls pass the entrance exams and get places at St Philomena which before RTL’s involvement would have been out of reach.
Kumudini Homes Boys School
Kumudini Homes School was established in 1935 and has expanded since then. Currently under the guidance of Bhupen Pathak, the Primary school section is accessible to BPL parents as the school fee (additional to the Government’s free education) is Rs2200 for the whole year (about £20). The Primary section has 20 children.
The Trustees
I joined Courtaulds Textiles as a management trainee. My speciality became operational efficiency. In various career moves, I took these growing skills into diverse sectors such as food and tobacco through eventually to automotive engineering. I ended up as a main board director for a FTSE 350 company becoming the Chairman and CEO of their North American operations.
I gained a 1st Class Hons Manufacturing Engineering Degree from Brunel University together with a formal training in Systems Analysis. Middlesex University conferred an Honorary Doctorate in 2007.
I met Ann Mills when we joined the WRAF many years ago.
I have had experience of living abroad since childhood. My mother was a teacher in Kenya and Uganda so I saw a lot of appalling conditions and the start of the civil war by Amin. My Grandparents lived and worked in India during the 1920s so my Mother grew up for a while in India. I feel a connection and excitement with India.
I joined the RAF as an Administrator in 1954.
I was granted a joint honours degree in Physics and Education by Nottingham University.
Our Supporters
Without the help of our supporters, some listed below and many other private generous contributors, we could not accomplish what we do.
The Sai Ram Trust “Love all – Serve all”.
The Old Berkhamstedians
The Lions Club Carterton
The Witney “Inner Wheel” ladies Rotary grant-giving charity
All who support our annual garden party.
A small but growing number of private individuals who make regular payments. Some choose to support specific projects or pupils. For others, the dependability of these payments is a vital foundation. See Gifting.