Yay, B, C's

Tutoring the kids today was bittersweet. My favorite part is listening to the kids pronounce the words. No matter how hard they try, the Indian children can't say "a". It always comes out as "yay" and "am" sounds like "yam". I can't help but smile because it's so cute. They are all so full of life and their greatest excitement comes from pronouncing a hard word on their own or reading the very last page of a book. I have fallen in love with these children and teaching. I can't wait to start my new major this fall!


As much as I love reading with them, it's hard for me to see a lot of them struggling with English. Many of the kids are being held back this year because they can't read well. A lot of the teachers here aren't teaching the kids well, but it is too hard to find a teacher to teach children of leprosy-afflicted people. Some children in 1st standard, or first grade, read better than students that are in the 6th and 7th standard. It's so important for them to be able to read english. The principal of the school told us that children in India that can read and speak English increase their chances of being employed by 500%. These children already have a disadvantage in the future because of where they come from, so we can't send them out into the world unprepared. The greatest blessing for them is that Rising Star Outreach has partnered with Marriott and Dell. They have agreed that they will employ the student from Rising Star above anyone else as long as they graduate with good grades. Men and women in these positions are paid 3 times as much as doctors in India. It is incredible to think that children who were once shunned and forgotten will grow up to be the elite in this society. I'm so grateful for this organization and the amazing companies that support it. These children are better off because of their generosity.


This little girl is seven years old and is the best reader in the school. Mariyambee is full of life and loves to learn. When she grows up she wants to be an engineer. Unfortunately, her mom calls many times a week to tell the principal she's taking her daughter out of school. Luckily, they have always been able to talk her out of it. Mariyambee's mother lives the life of a beggar and now wants her daughter to do the same. I sat and listened as her mother said she can read well enough now and doesn't need to become a doctor or anything like that. I pray every day that Mariyambee will be the incredible engineer she deserves to be.