Congratulations to our Nursing Students!

A momentous time for our three Nursing students! Angel, Saloni and Sonam have finished their education at Mure Memorial Nursing School in Nagpur and will be taking their final exams in October! At that point, they will wait for the results about 45 days , and then a career in Nursing will be on the horizon!

This whole adventure began in 2020, after the death of one of our founders, Jaime K. Kim. Jaime was an inspirational and caring women and she was beloved by many family and friends. Upon her passing, we started the Jaime K. Kim Memorial Fund and three students were selected to receive scholarships in Jaime’s name. Angel, Saloni and Sonam have now completed their three-program.

It was my pleasure to deliver the final payment for their exam fees, board and housing during this interim time, and take them out for a celebratory dinner! We are so proud of you!

Our Students from Felix

This year, our student sponsorship program has expanded to include 20+ girls from Felix Convent School. In previous years the total from Felix has been limited to 10, so this year’s growth is noteworthy. One reason is that the school has expereinced tremendous growth in the last few years, with enrollment topping 900 this year. This means the population of deserving girls has also increased. I say 20+ because we were supposed to find 20, but due to some confusion, we miscounted and added 3 students! So, we now have 3 extra girls to sponsor for a total of 53 girls to sponsor this year.

Our students from Felix Convent School gathered on Friday for a group picture and to share their details with their sponsors. At Felix we are sponsoring girls from Class 1 through Class 10 and it is a joy to be working with this wonderful staff to make a difference in the lives of needy children.

Celebrating Pola at Panchsheel

Yesterday, we celebrated the festival of Pola at Panchsheel Ashram School. The festival holds special importance for farmers in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and parts of central India. Dedicated to bulls and oxen, Pola marks a day of gratitude for these animals that play a vital role in agriculture. the oxen were decorated (remember the swastika is a Hindu sign of blessing, good fortune and good luck) Dances, music and a special art project where the children build small oxen out of clay and decorate them. Very fun! We also inaugurated a new guest house.

Our Students in Panchsheel!

Today, I had the pleasure of connecting with the 30 students we are sponsoring this year from Panchsheel Ashram School in Bahiram. They are all doing so well in school and have dreams of being nurses, doctors, pilots and forestry managers! This year’s group is comprised of 5 girls in 8th class, 4 girls in 9th class, 4 girls in 10th class, 7 girls in 11th class, 10 girls finishing their studies in 12th class. This year, all of our students from Panchsheel are returning to the program, but next year we will have a lot of new students to sponsors, due to the large number of girls in 12th class.Stay tuned!

A Panchsheel Ashram School welcome!

An amazing day! This rainy day began with an assembly of the 660 students and 28 staff, the Indian national anthem and songs and an introduction. Then, came my official tour of each classroom where I had the opportunity to interact with the kids and teachers, answer questions and take photos. Each classroom is filled with kids - from 30-55 kids per class - and most of the children stay on the premises. There are classes from 1st grade to 10th grade, and grades 11 and 12, which are considered Junior College.

Visiting Felix Convent School

This morning, I visited Felix Convent School in Paratwada for an assembly, an inauguration and some informal visiting of primary school classrooms. As the 900+ students gathered, the growth of the school was evident. Not only has the school grown in enrollment, but the facilities are improving, programs are expanding and the staff and administration are providing a strong foundation upon which the future will stand.

One visible improvement is the school’s music program: three years ago, the school began a band, with only a few flutes and drums. It is now a thriving program. The physical improvements of the plant include a repaving of the entrance area, new trees, and new furniture in the Nursery and Kindergarten classrooms.

After the morning assembly, we gathered in the second floor social hall and inaugurated the new water purifier system . As the school expands, the need for clean water also increases. This system will provide water to the 2-5th grade students who will not need to go downstairs and outside to fill water bottles. This system was funded by a generous gift of Jon Laciste. Many thanks to Jon!

Getting the Lay of the Land

It is my first official day at Panchsheel Ashram School. On Saturday, the children have a half-day of school, so I walked around the primary school campus, took some photos and made some observations of the changes since last year. Here are a few.

Lunch Area 2023

Lunch Area 2024

Lunch Area 2025

A lot is happening on campus - new building, expansion and improvement to make life easier for the students and staff. Last year, building had begun on the covered area near the kitchen. This is the area that has been used for serving and feeding all 600 children, three times daily. The project is now complete! Paved and covered to allow the children to sit on a paved surface instead of the dirt, and protected from the elements. Progress! 

Similarly, the area used for Morning gatherings has been paved with decorative bricks and this allows the children to be out of the dirt, which is a definite improvement! 

There has been some building expansion, as well, especially in the girls’ hostel. The top floor is now all sleeping/ studying/living area and the bottom floor is storage for their lockers. I also noticed many new murals and art work around campus, the beginnings of a computer lab, and a few primary teachers using screens and projectors in their classrooms. I will do a formal tour on Monday during which I will get more information. As always the teachers and students were a delight!

Traveling 2025, part 3 and Monsoon Season

One of the best things about Bajirao’s surprise visit, was that he was able to help me with details taking the train.I have done it before but this time, I had extra luggage and it is always helpful to have Bajirao communicate with the people in train stations, taxis and hotels. He is a great partner in this work!

So, we caught the train from Mumbai on Thursday night and arrived in Amravati in the morning on Friday. There is not much to do on the train but sleep and I got a few good hours of rest in my Air Conditioned car.

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We arrived in Bahiram around 10:30AM to a warm greeting by the teachers. Dressed in white, they had just finished their “Independence Day” program, hoisting the flag and celebrating the 75th anniversary of Indian independence. I was told many times that this monsoon season was disappointing, not much rain had fallen and the farmers were worried. 

This was an empty hole one hour before this picture was taken!

After a shower and breakfast, my wonderfully deep sleep was interrupted by the LOUDEST, MOST EARTH-SHAKING claps of thunder and lightning overhead and the heavens opened. A great rain came! The first big storm of the season!

Traveling 2025, part 2

In attempting to explain the journey to others, I often cite the number of hours I will be in a plane. And - don’t get me wrong - that in itself is impressive, but it does not capture the totality of my travel expereince. I began this journey on Monday morning and will not reach my final destination until Friday morning.

How does this work? Well, I started the journey to the airport on Monday at 10:30AM. My flight from LAX to Frankfurt left around 3PM. It is an 11 hour flight and I had a 3-hour layover in Frankfurt. Enough time to get a great cheese sandwich, walk through various terminals and prepare for the next flight. My flight from Frankfurt to Mumbai was 8 hours and 25 minutes, which landed me in Mumbai - with the 12.5 hour time difference) at about 1:30AM on Wednesday morning. I spent Wednesday sleeping and adjusting and tonight I will catch the overnight train to Amravati. It is about 12 hours from Mumbai to Amravati, then another 1-2 hour drive and it will be Friday morning when I get to Bahiram!

I am grateful to be older and wiser now, and having made this trip several times, I know to take a “rest day” in Mumbai before I continue the trip. I could “power through” but it is not worth it in the long run. My body needs time to adjust.

Surprises!

Guess who surprised me this afternoon?!? I was so surprised to hear the doorbell ring at 3:45pm to find Bajirao Gawai on my doorstep! He came to welcome me and then Akshay Gawai and Priyanka joined us for dinner! A blessed evening with great friends!

Traveling 2025, part 1

Well, I am here. I left Los Angeles at 3PM on Monday and I am in Mumbai now on Wednesday morning. Somehow I lost Tuesday in the travel. But I am ensconced in my favorite hotel in Colaba, drinking masala chai and reflecting on traveling.

Someone asked me in those few days before I left, if I was scared to make the trip. I explained this was my 12th trip - the same route, the same protocols, the same hotels and visits, therefore I know what to expect. Of course every time is different - some of my favorite restaurants and shops have closed; sometimes I take a different route, depending on where I am living/working at the time; sometimes, due to scheduling factors, I am not able to visit all the places I’d like.

When I first began this trip - in 2008 and some years after - I went with a team of doctors and their families, so I became acquainted with this area of Mumbai with them. About 6 weeks after that first trip, this area of Mumbai - Colaba - was the sight of a deadly terror attack, chosen for it’s reputation as the area that tourists enjoy. Several attack sites were ones that we had visited previously, including the Taj Hotel. (I will be visiting the Taj hotel tomorrow, my go-to spot for lunch or afternoon tea, people-watching and journalling. Photos to come.) But the familiarity, along with the “tips” I learned from the medical team, the careful care of those people I’ve met along the way, I feel safe and protected.

All my flights were fine - people were on good behavior and polite (mostly) and flights were on time and smooth. I packed on extra suitcase - due to the amount of gifts I’m bringing - but that should only be a burden when I am getting on and off the train tomorrow. I checked my two suitcases and carry on my backpack and camera bag. I usually stow my backpack under the seat in front of me, but my chosen seat had an obstruction under the seat so I asked the flight attendant for a different seat and got a great seat with lots of room. Usually, I just endure , but I was glad I asked. After my 12 hour flight to Frankfurt, I had an amazing cheese sandwich and chips and then took another 8 hours from Frankfurt to Mumbai. I arrived at 1:10AM, went through immigration and customs, picked up my bags, took a prepaid taxi to Colaba and checked into my room at 3:30AM. Today is a day of resting.

50 girls sponsored for 2025-2026!

WE DID IT! 50 students are now sponsored! Many thanks to all our sponsors - Thanks to you, 50 girls and young women will have the opportunity to quality education, food and boarding and the books and supplies needed for a successful school year.

Many thanks, Cal-Pac!

Many thanks to the people of the Cal-Pac Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church who raised more than $2300 for Friends of Padhar Schools with the sale of homemade and handmade items, cards, candles, Artisan soaps from the Hawaii Soap Company and T-shirts to support girls’ education!

Summer Arts and Crafts Sale at CalPac Annual Conference, June 11-14th!

Our Craft sale is back! Visit our booth at Annual Conference in Indian Wells and to support the mission of Friends of Padhar Schools, to bring educational opportunities to children in rural India!

Available for sale at California-Pacific Annual Conference, June 11-14 at Indian Wells, CA.

Get your T-shirts to support education for young women and girls! We have a limited supply, so on Wednesday, June 11 and Thursday, June 12 FREE with donations of $100 or more to Friends of Padhar Schools. On Friday and Saturday (June 13-14) they will be available for individual sale.

Image: Black T-shirt with the message "She is not waiting for change" (front) and "She is the change" (back) with small FoPS logo.

Also available

Photo cards by Rev. Jim White

Vintage items by Rev. Molly Vetter

Soap from Hawaii Soap Company

Handmade candles - orange and ginger

Eucalyptus and Mint

Lavender

FUNDING GOALS MET!

BREAKING NEWS! Today we sent a wire transfer in the amount of $6000 and this completes our fundraising goal for 2024-2025. We have sent a total of $23,000 to support students, staff and teachers of schools in rural India with programs such as:

Student Scholarships (54 girls received full scholarships)

Uniforms for needy children

Books, Stationary and supplies

Materials for Math and Science labs

Solar power for the Girl's hostel at Panchsheel School

Computers for staff at Felix Convent School and for Panchsheel School.

The 3rd year of Nursing School for our 3 students at Mure Memorial Nursing College

Many thanks to all of our donors!

Celebrating ten years!

Today is our 10 year anniversary! For ten years, our donors, our Board of Directors and our loyal supporters have worked to provide life-changing opportunity to the children of rural India. Over the years we have worked with eight schools in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and provided funding for student scholarships and teachers' salaries; water purifiers, coolers and wells; laboratory and computer equipment; books, notebooks, and stationary; and many desks and benches.

In our ten-year history we have provided over $175,000 in total funding to include:

Scholarships for 588 students.

Tuition, fees, room and board for 3 young women for 3 years of Nursing School.

One school bus for Felix Convent School.

I am forever grateful to our founding Board Members Jaime Kim and Karen Clark Ristine and those who have served on the Board since, including our current Board: Loreen Marshall, Lea Appleton, Amy Aitken, Allison Mark, Stephanie Slater Blay and Ana Stojanovska.

and many thanks to our donors! Your support is invaluable! Here's to many more years of generosity, support and love.

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50 girls sponsored!

Many thanks to our sponsors and donors, we were able to send a wire transfer to India yesterday, to support 50 girls and young women for the new school year. In addition, we sent 50% of the tuition and fees for the three nursing students supported by the Jaime Kim Memorial Fund. They will begin their third year of the 3-year program at the College of Nursing at Mure Memorial Hospital in Nagpur. #india #education #girlsrising #letgirlslearn

Jaime Kim Scholarship Recipients Pass the Test!

Above: Ms. Angel Chauhan, Ms. Saloni Ingle, Executive Director of FoPS Krista Givens, Ms. Sonam Kasdekar with the warden of their dormitory.

In 2022, three young women from Bahiram, Maharashtra received full scholarships to attend Mure Memorial Nursing College through the Jaime Kim Memorial Fund. With the help of donors, Friends of Padhar Schools has provided tuition and fees, room and board to three young women: Ms. Angel Chauhan, Ms. Saloni Ingle, and Ms. Sonam Kasdekar. Angel, Saloni and Sonam are finishing their second year of Nursing School and just received their results from their first Board exams - all three did very well and passed with high marks. They have another full year of school to finish and several more Board exams but they are on their way! Many thanks to all who support the Jaime Kim Memorial Fund.

Holiday Greetings from FoPS!

During the holiday season, as we reflect on the good in this world, we think of partners and friends like you. This year, thanks to your donations and support, we were able to send $29,530 to help fund scholarships for 54 girls and young women; desks and benches for student use; books and writing supplies; tuition and fees for 3 young women in Nursing School; sewing machines for those graduating from the tailoring program; salary help for teachers; and warm clothes for orphaned children for the winter.

We appreciate you, and hope that the holidays and the coming year will bring you happiness and success.

Finishing the trip

Well, friends, the time has come to say goodbye to India. I will catch my flight back to Spain (through Zurich) tonight and be home on Saturday, if all flights are on time and nothing hinders or delays my journey. I must say, there have been several times that I marveled at the lack of problems with my travel - all flights, trains, pick ups and drop offs have happened without incident! That makes me feel like I’ve been successful.

What can I say about this trip? It’s been fun and joyful, meaningful and life-changing. The situation at some of our schools is dire, with talks of closing down soon. Many of our teachers have not been paid since April. This is the reality of the work we do and it can be heartbreaking and frustrating. But the joy of girls sponsored, children with books and supplies, a new water cooler that helps provides clean and safe water, these joys outweigh the pain of being involved in the work.

What will happen now? I will travel home, get back to my normal life and do this work in my “free time” starting with our student sponsorship program. We will meet with the Board of Directors and I will share the information I’ve gathered and we will continue fundraising.

Thanks for following me through my journey.

With love,

Krista