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The school in India
provides free education and uniforms to children who are born into the
poorest and lowest castes.
Sharon
International Ministries (SIM) is an Indian Charity serving the needs of some
of the poorest and lowest castes in a rural part of Andhra Pradesh in
S.E.India. SIM was founded 15 years
ago by Dr. Sam Karra, who is also from the lowest caste and received an
education to become a doctor. He is supported by his family, his father being
one of 4 pastors running 4 churches in the area.
Sheila and Tom
Holyer first met him in Beaconsfield
in 2006 and shared his vision to build a school out there, as education is a
way for children to progress upwards and away from their poverty. They
visited the area in 2007 and saw the building foundations; the following
year, 2008, they saw the roof of the ground floor being made, and the first
students started later that year with over 400 children aged from 4 to 12
years enjoying an education for the first time. Originally there were over 700 applicants,
and there are now over 1,000 children who would love to join the school but
at the moment there is only room for 400.
In 2009 Tom and Sheila again visited the school to see 400 lovely
children so eager to learn. It was a great experience!!
Some of the funding of the school is through
the local churches, Dr. Sam’s family and various contacts that have been made
in India
by Dr. Sam. SIM is a registered charity in India, and Sheila and Tom Holyer have
established SIM in Beaconsfield
to also raise money and the present commitment is to pay the teacher’s
salaries each year by having a number of fund-raising events. Now the Beaconsfield Christian Churches
Trust (BCCT)
itself a UK
registered charity - Registered
Charity Number 279776 - has become involved by making SIM’s work one
of their projects.
The members of the
Beaconsfield
churches are active in raising funds for the running of the school. There are no overheads in the UK –
every penny (rupee) goes to support this worthwhile work.
Spring 2010 Diminishing
Lunches to raise funds for the School
Click here for more information
We would be very grateful for
help with the teachers’
salaries and upkeep of the
buildings.
If you can help or would like
more information
please telephone Tom and Sheila on 01494
676373
or click to email
Click to see more photographs
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