It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that Rising Star Outreach announces the passing of a beloved student, daughter, sister, and friend, Varalakshmi V.

Varalakshmi passed away Friday, May 20th due to a drowning accident in the Ponneri Leprosy Colony.  She and her brothers were bathing and playing in the river located behind the colony when she was swept away by unusually strong water currents due to heavy rains. Varalakshmi was preparing to return to Peery Matriculation School at the beginning of June, where she would have started sixth standard.

Varalakshmi and her little brother Veera came to our school in June 2012, where she immediately made an impact on all who met her.  She was a fierce protector of Veera, possessed just the right amount of mischievousness, had an infectious laugh, beautiful smile, and warm sparkling eyes. Varalakshmi worked extremely hard in school. She had a love for education and was able to progress quickly despite the demanding curriculum. Numerous volunteers have tender memories of spending time with Varalakshmi and Veera during playtime, tutoring Varalakshmi during the education rotation, and walking her back to the hostel when she finished her extra studying at night school - she loved getting to hold the flashlight. Her faithful sponsors are sure to cherish the letters and school work she has sent to them and we thank them for their years of love and support.

Varalakshmi has two younger brothers that will be returning to school in June. Veera (8 yrs) will be entering 4th standard and Vignesh (5 yrs)will be one of our new kindergartners. This will be a difficult time for these brothers, her devoted father, grandfather, and the Ponneri Leprosy Colony family. The children attending our school, the housemothers, teachers, and staff who have grown to love and depend on Varalakshmi, will also miss her terribly. Please remember them in your thoughts and prayers in the coming months. Culturally appropriate grief counseling will be available to all Peery Matriculation School students when they return to campus in a few weeks. If you sponsor one or more of our beautiful students, please consider reaching out to them. The support of your relationship with your sponsored child is so important at this time.

Click on the link above or email "kids@risingstaroutreach.org" to write digitally to your sponsored child

Learn more about Sponsoring one of Varalakshmi's classmates

Donate and learn more about the College Scholarship Fund

Founder Becky Douglass, Board Member Christy Dixon, Director Amy Humphrey

March President's Letter: Ricky and Christy Dixon have shown that by involving others, love is truly magnified!

"Sometimes the world seems like a scary place.  But just knowing I have a little friend halfway across the world makes me feel better.  I guess I think of Surya more as a friend, than a child I sponsor."

Surya

"I thoroughly enjoy the letters and artwork (especially the colorful pictures) Surya sends to me."

December 2015 President's Letter: Historic Opening of Higher Secondary School Celebrated

The word “up”, despite its length and simplicity seems to deliver a powerful message of optimism, improvement, and advancement. At Rising Star Outreach we strive to help people up. In some cases taking them literally up out of the dirt, up off of the streets, up from a place of poverty and degradation, and up to new horizons, new opportunities, and renewed hope for a brighter future ahead.

Biology Class with 11th Standard

Since 2004, Rising Star Outreach has been educating young people to raise them up. Our school has grown, not only in capacity of students able to attend, but also in opportunities available to those students to move up. Today we celebrate the next great advancement that has moved the Peery Matriculation School up to another level.

On November 5, we opened a Higher Secondary School to educate children through standards 11 and 12 on the campus of Rising Star Outreach!

Inaugural Ceremony

We have hoped for and looked forward to this day with great anticipation, and celebrate the wonderful events that have transpired to make it a  possibility. This is not just an advancement in opportunity for these young people, but a step up for all of Rising Star Outreach. Having a higher secondary school as part of our complement of educational opportunities advances and enhances the prominence and prestige of the Peery Matriculation School.

While most of our former students are now studying in standards 11 and 12, and will complete their studies at other fine institutions in Tamil Nadu, we are grateful to welcome ten optimistic young students into the class of 2017.

Our new 11th Standard class

These advancements and improvements are only possible because of the support of friends and donors, like you, who lift us up! We express our thanks to all who have helped in this wonderful endeavor.

Monsoon Relief Fund

Monsoon waters hit southern India

On a separate note, November has been a remarkably heavy month of monsoons in southern India. In addition to all of the other wonderful ways you help us, if you are in such a position, we invite you to consider adding a gift this year to our Monsoon Relief Fund. This fund is enabling our Indian team to respond to the various needs in diverse colonies, to help them up as they recover from an exceptionally heavy season of rains and flooding.

Please go to our Gift Guide and consider adding some additional support this year for Monsoon Relief.

Rising Star Outreach relief aid

This special holiday season gives us another chance to pause and thank each of you for your help as we LIFT the leprosy affected, ELEVATE our students, and RAISE the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of so many who have so little but can become so much.

Thank you for being part of this wonderful mission that is moving UP!

Sincerely,
Tyler

Today we celebrate the rights of girls and women everywhere. It’s a day to celebrate efforts toward a world where every girl gets a childhood that truly prepares her for a fulfilling and self-sufficient life. Here at Rising Star Outreach, we like to think we are contributing to this honorable cause. On this significant day we thought we would highlight a few of our girls, through the eyes of their sponsors, who are well on their journey toward a wonderful life.


Jessie, while traveling to India with BYU’s College of Nursing, met Velankanni and Sangeetha and her life was changed forever. She writes of her sponsorship experience, “Velankanni was this little spunky ball of energy that grabbed my heart before I knew she’d ever done it. I met her on her first day of school at reading time…  I remember her being so happy to have me there. We played "Chaser" and hide and seek with the other children on the play ground during playtime… Sangeetha was just in UKG when we arrived. It was her first time being away from home. She was scared.  I remember the moment she wrapped me around her little finger. It was at reading time as well. I held her and rocked her on the balcony of the hostel and she just nuzzled her little head into my neck and played with my hair.

I hear about how she is doing in school, and apparently she isn't the shy little one I met there a year ago. She's vibrant and growing so quickly… Overall sponsoring my kids makes me happy. I love hearing from them. It reminds me of India, of the experience of a lifetime, and of the many things I learned while I stayed there. India taught me how to love unconditionally – but also how to receive love. Sure, when I sponsor my kids, I'm helping to provide them with a promising future. But it all honesty, as cheesy as it sounds, I feel like I benefit the most.”

When Lorraine learned about the taboo of leprosy in India she wanted to do something to help.  She was pleased when she learned that she could sponsor a child and give the gift of education. In her own words she says, “I looked at many images of children who were looking for a sponsor. I wish I could have sponsored them all. My eyes rested on Karpagavalli because she looked like an older child and I tried to imagine some of the things that she must have been facing in her young life at that age. I felt impressed to start sponsoring her straight away… so she could have a chance.” Karpagavalli has now graduated from 12th Standard with high marks on her final exams, and is studying to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Technology at Saranaphan College of Engineering. She’s off and running!























Learn more about International Day of the Girl Child here

Session 3 has loved working with the children in the Education Rotation! Emma, Becca, and Madison have been best friends since they were little and decided to volunteer in India together. They loved working with the younger students and came to know them very well. When talking about the Education Rotation, Becca said, “UKG PE was the funnest thing I’ve ever done. They are so freaking cute!”