Matching Grant #54682
Girls Education Project
D-3160, India

It is fairly common practice among the poor populations in India for girls to only be sent to school until the 7th grade. Part of the philosophy behind this is the notion that soon the girl will be getting married and going to someone else's household.

The United Nation's Committee of Population Growth Studies tells us that poor populations where girls are not educated above the 7th grade have eight times the population growth rate of the US and Europe. Conversely, in areas where girls are educated on average to the 10th grade, the population growth rate is equal to that of the US and Europe.

 This project was developed in the 2004-2005 Rotary year as a district project between District 6060 and District 3160. Governors Martin Anders and Dr. Indira Reddy agreed to sponsor this project to keep 600 girls in school for three additional years. The project would provide adequate school supplies and uniforms to the girls, and  school books and benches to the schools so that these girls could stay in school for three more years.  Also, Dr. Indira organized a group of her fellow OB/GYN physicians to provide free medical care to these girls for three years.

The schools where the project took place are the municipal high schools of Guntakal and nearby cities/towns of Tadpatri, Hiriyur, and Hospet.

Two sets of school uniforms would be provided to each of the 600 girls, as well as books and necessary school  supplies. 

300 school benches would be made and given to the schools these girls would be attending.

The $40,000 project was submitted to our Rotary Foundation and approved, with funding arriving in time to prepare for the 2005-2006 school year.