On a musty monsoon morning in June, mother and daughter are up early getting ready for the first day of school. It’s hard to tell which one is more nervous as Mother carefully grooms her daughter per Miss Grace’s instructions. Mother keeps looking over at her husband sleeping on the floor of their one room hut. He was out late last night drinking cheap grain alcohol with village men. Best to get out the door quickly. No doubt he will be in a foul mood when he awakens and he isn’t happy about their daughter attending school.
Mother was so relieved Miss Grace told her that her daughter had been admitted to Wings School. She dreams of a different life for her little girl. Mother feels blessed that her daughter will be fed two meals every day; there isn’t enough food at home for everyone. Her daughter is smiling, proudly wearing the new pink uniform. An older girl from Wings arrives at the door and mother gives her daughter a quick kiss goodbye. She watches them start the 15K walk to school that is the first step in a journey to a better life.
Wings begins a new school year June 1st. The director, Grace Helen Rajkumar has been busy evaluating the new student admissions. There will be eleven 1st graders admitted for the new year; older students are not admitted because it is too difficult remediate their deficits. The process starts with parents submitting documentation of their socio economic status of extreme poverty. Grace then verifies the information. Once that step is accomplished the student goes through a series of written screening exams to make sure she has the aptitude to handle the rigorous CBSE curriculum. If she is deemed to have the capability then the parents are called in for an interview to make sure they will support their daughter’s education. Part of the commitment the parents are asked for is to sign a contract that they will not force their daughter to get married before she is 18.
Once admitted, the student and parents are instructed on proper grooming which is expected each day. Many of the families lack that knowledge and resources for basic hygiene. Two new uniforms are provided as well as a pair of shoes, underclothing, and socks. Grace pairs the new students with older girls who live close by so they walk in groups to and from school to insure safety. When they walk into school the first day, the building has been white washed and prepared for the new year. They are bright faced and eager to learn as they begin their journey out of poverty.
