The poorest children around Vrindavan literally live off the streets and their only hope each day is to go and beg for a few rupees to support their families. Their lives are full of ignorance, frustration and suffering and they are caught up in a vicious circle of poverty.

The two Sandipani Muni schools provide these children with a chance to break free and make something of their lives. The schools provide education to some 900 of the poorest children in Vrindavan in a safe environment and with qualified teachers. The schools encompass award winning education standards and include a kindergarten which takes care of toddlers from the age of 6 months whilst their parents are at work.

The schools promote new methods of teaching, giving much importance to an interactive and integrated method of learning as recommended by the Government's State Educational Board. The children are taught the most basic of skills from washing and grooming themselves to learning the alphabet and numbering system and advancing further in Maths, English and Hindi. Extracurricular activities outside of school help the children to expand their minds, express themselves creatively and have some fun. They include dance, music, theatre, sports, swimming and martial arts. The children are also supported in further developing their cultural and spiritual beliefs.

Due to insufficient space in the schools, afternoon classes have also been initiated for the children who are unable to secure a place in the schools but who long to go to school! This afternoon programme gives the older children a way to contribute back and gives them an opportunity to assist the in teaching.

The education for the children is free. The sponsorship programme, named "Gift of Hope", is the means to provide free education and skills to the poorest children who live in the worst possible conditions and have no hope of otherwise being educated.

Without help from Food For Life Vrindavan, these children would not be able to escape the poverty trap or be in a position to bring about change not only for themselves but for their family and the community too. Education is giving them hope for a better future and we have seen these children transform into well rounded, confident individuals who aspire to having a professional job and making a difference for others around them.

Our commitment:

Our commitment is to maintain our existing schools and to build a further school to support education for children up to the age of 18 years, as well as provide support to individuals in finding suitable employment.

To do this, we need your help. You can sponsor a child for as little as 80 pence per day! This is sufficient to cover all expenses necessary for the full time education and care of the child including meals and clothes, giving them an opportunity that they would otherwise only dream of.

Click here to sponsor a child.