Back in Class Where They Belong!

Last spring, I had the privilege of meeting some new Friends at a high school in south India.

Founded in 1929, this school is a very special place. Many of the students come from nomadic backgrounds, where they have few educational opportunities. Through the school’s scholarship programs, hundreds of girls are able to gain stability, finish their education, and train for a professional career.

But they had a particular struggle: aging infrastructure had begun to fail, and the available drinking water had become contaminated. Students and teachers regularly missed class because of preventable waterborne illnesses.

In March 2024, we built a new well at the school, and connected it to a filtration system so that every glass of water these ladies drank would be clean and safe. During our visit, the school held an assembly that included both tribal and Bollywood dances, and Aneka, their class president (and a second-year medical lab tech student!), told us what that gift meant to them.

“We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for this fresh drinking water. You have made our stay at this college good. Clean water means health, education, and our overall prospects being supported. Thanks to you, we know we can achieve many good things.”

~ Aneka, Class of 2026

Now, instead of missing days of school, these girls are in class - where they belong! They are pursuing careers in medicine, education, technology, and engineering, and preparing for their boards so they can apply to universities. We are so proud of Aneka and her classmates, and we can’t wait to see how they, too, make the world a better place!