ABDF

One of our volunteer project partners, Easwaran, recently approached ABDF with a special request. Due to the current political turmoil in his home village, he has been unable to study for his Advanced-Level (A-Level) exams. Sri Lanka follows the British system of education, and the A-Levels, a sort of national exam given at the end of high school, determines whether a student will be able to continue with his education. (Due to current political sensitivities, we won’t be posting any photos of Easwaran.)

Easwaran’s main area of study is physics, a difficult enough subject to study for under calm conditions. Unfortunately, the area around his village has seen a good deal of conflict between various rival militias. The result is that the classes necessary for those studying for their A-Levels, known as “tuition classes,” have largely vanished from the area, as classes tend to happen in the late afternoon and evening, and it is simply not safe for young people, particularly young men, to be out and about after dark. Oft times A-Level students come to Batticaloa town, where classes are plentiful and safe to attend. The catch is that tuition classes cost money, and kids from rural areas must also find and pay for room and board. For poor families this can be cost prohibitive.

Easwaran has helped ABDF with several of our projects in the past year, one example being the rhonio machine we recently gave to the Education Development Society in Kaluthavelai. He has done this entirely for free. Easwaran’s father is a betel leaf farmer, and his mom earns income by selling the leaves in the local market. He is the only boy and has four sisters; thus the future of the family rests on his shoulders. And given Easwarans’ grades while in high school there’s no reason to think that he wouldn’t do very well in his A-Levels, if given half a chance.

The A-Level exams will be held this coming August, and so ABDF has agreed to sponsor Easwaran in his A-Level quest. So from December through the beginning of August, ABDF will pay for three tuition classes that cover the subject given in the exam (Math, Physics, and Biology) as well as provide him with a 2,000 rupee ($18) a month stipend as a way of showing our appreciation for all the help he has given us over the past year.

Thank you, Easwaran, and good luck!

Project Update - August, 2010

The A-Levels for the year have taken place, with results not due until December or January. Easwaran feels fairly confident in his performance. And he wishes to thank ABDF for it’s sponsorship of his studies.