Metgudad is a small village in the State of Maharashtra. The village’s nearly 1,600 population is mainly farmers with an average yearly income of less than $2,000. Their main crop is strawberries. The village school has 332 children. With the help of Hope is Life Foundation, the school recently opened a new library.

Natascha Yogachandra cut is seen officially opening the library

I encouraged the students to stay in school and read and read more books

More than 2,000 books in Marathi and English languages were donated to the library. Natascha and Debbie Yogachandra of Hope is Life Foundation recently inaugurated the library. Natascha encouraged the school children to explore the world through reading and to spend lots of time in their new library. (January 2007)

Natascha and her mother, Debbie Yogachandra with the village officials in front the library building