We are VERY excited to announce our recently published 2016 Volunteer Session dates!

As many of you know, the Volunteer Program has undergone several changes over the last couple of months. Thank you for your continued patience, love and support so many of you have shown throughout this interesting time.

Are you having trouble deciding on whether to volunteer or not?

I’ve been in your position before—deciding whether or not to dedicate your time and resources to volunteering. I’ve been a volunteer before, many times before actually. In fact, Rising Star Outreach was my 4th International volunteer experience in addition to numerous domestic volunteering opportunities and assignments throughout my life. I don’t tell you this to brag or gloat, but rather to reassure you I know where you are coming from. I understand the hesitance and intimidation factor that sometimes comes with willingly signing up for a new experience that is more than a little out of your comfort zone.

I understand the mass of “stuff” you need to navigate while preparing all things needed for your trip—the doctor appointments, visa applications, turning this and that in, making arrangements with school, work, budget adjustments and fundraising. I understand seemingly endless flights, battling jet lag, and missing the comforts of home.

But I also understand how amazing it can be. And how no amount of money can replace the personal understanding and growth you experience. I’ve tasted the humility that comes when welcomed in to a home that is only slightly bigger than your own bedroom. I’ve watched as individuals with less than able bodies crawl, scoot, shuffle and smile their way through each day.

I’ve seen individuals beaming with pride from having accomplished something they never thought possible. I’ve felt that almost indescribable feeling of joy you feel while witnessing others overcome their circumstance bit by bit. I’ve experienced priceless moments and built friendships to last a life time.

I’ve been deeply touched and forever changed by my volunteer experiences and know you can too.

Learn more about session dates here
Sign up for our Newsletter here (make sure to choose Volunteer and Newsletter as "interest")


More about our Volunteer Program Manager

Sponsorship Spotlight: Hellen Crain and Karthik P.

Hellen Crain is both a Sponsor and Donor to Rising Star Outreach



My Rising Star relationship began with another type of star - David Archuleta, singer / song writer.  David was a finalist on American Idol Season 7 and he is a gifted singer with a huge heart. He encouraged his fans to donate to charities and one he highlighted was Rising Star Outreach.  So my first donation to RSO was for a walkway called the Pathway of Hope.

I think we are all inundated for requests for donations.  I research before I donate. When I read about RSO, I was shocked to learn that we still lived in a world where people with leprosy and their families are shunned and outcast.  I saw so many beautiful children on RSO’s website that needed sponsors. $30 a month would help a child and provide them with education, nutrition, housing and medical care. I realized how I wasted money on buying coffee, lunch and things I didn’t need.  I still wasn’t ready to make a commitment.



One night I was on Facebook and RSO highlighted some children that needed sponsors. One picture of a very radiantly smiling little boy named Karthik P. – I could feel his smile from the picture! It was all I needed and I signed up to be a sponsor in 2012.


In the last 4 years, I have exchanged letters with Karthik P.  Karthik loves to draw and I’ve received many wonderful drawings from him.  Just to receive a short note or a drawing warms my heart.  Karthik is always smiling – just beaming – in his photos.

Karthik loves to draw and I’ve received many wonderful drawings

With the help of the volunteers and staff at RSO, I’ve been able to find out what Karthik likes.  Can you believe he loved WWE?  I was chuckling while I sent some WWE figurines and a t-shirt.  Of all the things we could share with the kids in India, who would have known WWE was so popular?
Over these years, Karthik tells me about his school work, games he likes to play and sends me his artwork.  I send him letters and cards telling him about my life and family.  Karthik and his smile have added so much to my life. I am very proud to be his sponsor.


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About our Sponsorship Coordinator

The following was taken from David’s journal from his most recent visit to Rising Star Outreach in 2014:       

Over the last few months I’ve gotten to be really close with all the older boys. I feel like I’ve taken on the role of “older brother” for these kids. A lot of them don’t have very many good male role models, so I have kind of felt the need to be that for them. One of the boys that I’ve gotten extremely close with is my sponsor child, Vimal Kanth. He is in 9th Standard, which is the equivalent to 9th grade. One night I was about to talk to him and got his story.

David and Vimal

Vimal told me that he’s never met his dad. When his mom found out that she was pregnant with him, his dad split and never came back. It was so devastating to his mom that Vimal is not even allowed to ask about him. [When not at Rising Star] Vimal lives at his mom’s house with his aunts and uncles, who I guess act like his “father figures,” but that he doesn’t really get along with.

With Friends

He keeps asking me to come back, because next year will be his last year and it could be the last time that I ever see him. I hate it when he plays that one on me because it is so true. If I come back next year, it could very well be the last time I ever see him. And I hate that thought. He has now started telling me that I have to stay in India forever. I’m only allowed to go home for my sister’s wedding, and then I have to come back to India till he dies. The best one was one night at reading time. He told me that if he found any lice in my hair that I had to stay with him forever. So he proceeded to check my hair, and he “found” one, but before he could prove it to me he “dropped it.” I guess I have to stay in India forever. I seriously love this kid so much!

Vimal is Cool

David can be found on Instagram @Davidm2010

More about our Volunteer Program Manager

January 2016 President's Letter


December left its mark on Rising Star Outreach... literally! It downed trees, washed out our track, and damaged fences and roads on our campus, while exacting a serious toll on the surrounding area and some of the colonies that we serve.

Fortunately, many of our amazing friends stepped up and responded to our call for Monsoon Relief Aid.

One of my favorite stories comes from Mindi, a young woman from Utah who decided she could help by donating money that she earned shoveling snow.


What a beautiful and profound expression of love! Thank you Mindi and thanks to each of you who have contributed to help our dear friends in the colonies.

Your help has already allowed us to set up various clinics and provide needed food and supplies to more than 1,000 individuals and their families, which you can read about here. There is still much to be done, and I will be sure to update you on how things progress with restoration.

December capped off a very memorable year for Rising Star Outreach. Some of the most notable highlights of 2015 include the following:

• The Peery Matriculation School topped enrollment of 260 students for the first time
• All five 12th standard students passed their exams and began their college careers 
•  All 13 of the 10th standard students successfully passed their exams to continue their schooling
• Together with the Perpetual Colony Education Fund recipients we helped over 500 students attend school this year!
• We were blessed to receive opening permission to start a higher secondary school at Rising Star Outreach
• Founder Becky Douglas returned from her mission to the Dominican Republic and accepted the invitation to chair the Board of Directors for Rising Star Outreach
• Sally Read concluded her term as president and I was humbled by the invitation to be the next president
• Scores of individuals received access to micro-finance
•  Hundreds of leprosy effected patients received medical 
• Thousands of lives were lifted and changed for the better!