Educating the Orphans in Manipur, India

Hope is Life Foundation will be assisting in the welfare of several orphan children, some infected HIV.AIDS virus, to attend schools in Manipur, India. The Foundation will work with the trustees and the staff of Borni Memorial English School (BMES) to sponsor nearly fifteen orphans help them lead a healthy life and continue with their education.

The school is located in the Pangantabi village in Thoubal District, which is about 80km away from Imphal the capital city of Manipur, India. 

The population of Pangantabi village is approximately 6,000. Most of the villagers are farmers. Their family income depends on the annual harvest. They harvest the crops once in a year. Few of them run small business (shop, home industries e.g. handloom and hand crafts) as income generating industry. Most women do craft work and men work in the farm. The farmers live on an average less than US$1 a day. 

To stay in school is expensive for these children. They are required to buy school uniforms, school shoes and text books which most parents are unable to afford. In addition to this, the schools are suffering from lack of teachers and educational materials. As a result, children are beginnig to drop out of schools as early as grade two due mostly to the high cost of education, poverty and the travel from village to schools.

Currently, there are about 119 girls and 121 boys from ages 3 to 12 attend this school. The schools is unable to provide meals as there are no financial support from the goverment. Some bring food from home and other go hungry. For several children who have difficulties or orphans, the head master provide food on a daily basis. The school has no support from the authorities and most teachers are teaching on a voluntary basis. The financial support for the school comes from he principal and some donors in the village. 

This is the only school for the children in this community. There are many orphans and children infected with HIV.AIDS virus want to study in this school but unbale to do because of financial difficulties. 

The children are encouraged to get involved in socio economic development projects near the school

She is 11-years-old. Her father died. Mother is a laborer and cannot afford to send her to school. Her dream is to become a teacher

This student is 10-years-old. Both her parents died from HIV/AIDS and now she is living with her grandmother. Her dream is to become a doctor so she can serve the poor people in her village.