Be the Change: Students

President's Letter: Success through Education

Read's Ride for Rising Star

Many people share their time and talents to help Rising Star Outreach be effective in the work of assisting those with leprosy. Keith Read organizes an annual bike ride, Read's Ride for Rising Star Outreach, and reaches out to friends and family to make this a meaningful event. This year it was a smashing success! On behalf of Rising Star Outreach, I thank him for his enthusiasm and passion year after year to raise awareness and money for Rising Star Outreach. Keep those bike wheels turning!

Shawn Bradley Golf Tournament

Each year Shawn Bradley shares his passion for Rising Star by hosting a golf tournament. In September the 5th Annual Shawn Bradley Golf Charity Invitational was held at the beautiful Red Ledges Golf Course in Heber City, Utah. Unusual rainy weather had been forecast, but on the day of the tournament the skies were blue and the vibrant autumn colors provided a spectacular backdrop for the many participants and guests that supported the event. When people think of Shawn Bradley they may think of his height or his successful basketball career, but I think of his incredible giving heart and the hope he offers to those affected by leprosy by providing the means for medical care, micro-grants, and the opportunity of receiving an education.

We were also honored to have Mehmet Okur, Randy Rigby, and Chad Lewis spend the day supporting Shawn and Rising Star Outreach. A special thank you to them for their part in the success of this day. In my book, they each hit a hole-in-one for Rising Star Outreach!

Thank you to all our sponsors and volunteers and participants of the day! You have made this year another year of success!

Education with Rising Star

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Many children living in leprosy colonies do not have nor have they ever had leprosy. However, they are often rejected from society due to the lingering stigma surrounding the disease. Because of this stigma these children do not have the opportunity to receive an education. Thankfully, Rising Star Outreach looks beyond the stigma and believes every child should have the advantage of an education. The Peery Matriculation School located on our campus offers rigorous academic programs to almost 300 students, who without Rising Star Outreach would not have this opportunity!

Rising Star Outreach believes in educating children, because education gives children options, education can end the cycle of poverty and education can remove the stigma associated with leprosy.

For many years I was an educator in Utah and in New York City. When I first visited the Rising Star Outreach campus in India, I was impressed with the educational programs because I saw first-hand their effectiveness to make positive changes in the students' lives. As a volunteer I remember sitting under a tree in the mango grove assisting the children with elementary English. I taught a basic phonics lesson about the short "a" sound by using the elements around me: “We sat on the mat and patted the mat, while the ant ambled by.” It was magical as I witnessed the student grasping the short "a" sound!

Today the classrooms are more sophisticated, but the process, so “painful and insignificant,” is where “success is being achieved” at Rising Star Outreach.

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Recently Ms. Nathiya (Standard IX teacher) and Mr. Dhanasekaran (Standard X teacher) recognized two outstanding students for their moral leadership and school work.

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“Naveen Raj is a quiet young man who has shown ability in leadership and responsibility. His family lives in the Government Leprosy Home at Paranur, near Chengalpet. His father has leprosy, and sadly his mother recently passed away. Naveen Raj is a promising student who wants to become a computer engineer. He dances well and is a member of LifeDance, a prestigious dance troupe at Rising Star Outreach in a partnership with Promethean Spark International.

“Naveen is also a star athlete. At the district level he has won gold medals in running, a silver medal for discus throw, and a bronze medal for long jump. He is a proud member of the Student Council and is also the School Pupil leader.

“The transformation of his life from a dismal past in a leprosy colony to a bright and brilliant future is due to the intervention of Rising Star, and he is very grateful to God for providing him with these opportunities.”

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“Vijayalakshmi M. is a cheerful and responsible young woman in the 10th standard. Her family lives in Chettipunyam. Her father is a truck driver, and her mother is a homemaker. She also has an older brother.

“She does well in all her subjects because of her dedication and intelligence. Sometimes she even wakes up at 3:00 a.m. to study for her exams! She plans to join the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), which is the premier administrative civil service of the Indian government.

“Vijayalakshmi is a talented dancer and is a member of Life Dance—a dance troupe that not only teaches dancing, but also teaches life skills and values through dance.

"Vijayalakshmi is also a good athlete and has won gold and silver medals at the zonal and district levels in running. She is interested in arts and crafts and has won prizes for theme drawing.

“Most of her peers in the colony do not have much to look forward to except marriage and routine jobs, but thanks to her God-given talents and the intervention of Rising Star Outreach, Vijayalakshmi has the opportunity of becoming a builder and architect of the nation in the highest echelons of the government. She says when she gets a job and 'lots of money', she wants to open a school to teach poor people to dance.”

Thanks to incredibly dedicated teachers at Peery Matriculation School like Ms. Nathiya and Mr. Dhanasekaran, Rising Star Outreach students are not only involved in rigorous academic learning, but also life lessons that enable them to accomplish their educational goals. This education will help them become leaders at Rising Star Outreach and throughout India.

Anne Sullivan, the beloved teacher, knew Helen Keller had the potential to not only learn, but also achieve great things. We at Rising Star Outreach believe each of our students—when given the opportunity to learn—will lift their own lives and those in the leprosy colonies that do not have those same opportunities. My sincere appreciation for your continued support of Rising Star Outreach. You are Rising Stars in significantly transforming lives.

Happy September!

Sally Read

President

Rising Star Outreach

Monday, October 06, 2014
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Indian Independance Day

peery matriculation school

Monday, August 25, 2014
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Throwback Thursday: Christraj

Playtime

Thursday, August 21, 2014
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Volunteer Session 3: Education Rotation

Education

Tuesday, August 12, 2014
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Release of a new Video! Lifting those with Leprosy

Colony Development

Wednesday, July 30, 2014
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Change Agent: Maurine Westover

Colony Development

Maurine has been chosen as the Session #2 change agent, but lucky for us, she has been with us since Session #1. We have loved having her on campus and really wish we could keep her longer. Her spunky personality, creativity and mad teaching skills have been touching the people of India since June.

Maurine is a professional science teacher hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. She has gone out of her way to use her education background to help the students with their studies—often at the sacrifice of her own free time. Maurine has become a permanent tutor at night school and has even served as a substitute teacher during regular school days when needed. After teaching his class, one of the students approached her asking when she would be coming to teach again. I believe his exact words were “Auntie! Auntie! Can you come teach my class again? You are the best reader! You are the best teacher ever!”

Her education background didn't limit Maurine from excelling in the medical and construction rotations as well. Maurine’s positive attitude mixed with her natural spunk created a contagiously positive atmosphere where ever she was found.

When told she was chosen as the Session 2 Change Agent, Maurine was very touched. She wrote the following about her volunteering experience in India;

"I think one of the most beautiful parts of any country are the people that reside there. I've definitely seen this to be true in India. My favorite experiences have been talking and playing with the children, laughing with the Indians we work with, or hugging those we serve. A highlight from the trip was the day I was asked to be a substitute teacher at the school. I was a little nervous, and I wasn't sure what cultural differences to expect in the classroom. The day turned out to be incredible! Each class started a little crazy as students got back from their breaks, but once we were going they were extremely enjoyable classes. The students were so respectful, quietly standing up by their seat each time they answered a question and very participative and engaged in the class. I feel so privileged to have had that opportunity here. I’m really going to miss the kids here, but I’m excited to bring all my experiences back and use in my classroom in America. I hope I can share piece of my experience with my students there."

We will miss having Maurine on campus, but we are so grateful for the time we were able to have her here!

Tuesday, July 22, 2014
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Throwback Thursday: India~ You make me smile!

Students

Thursday, July 17, 2014
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Parent's Day

Saturday, July 12th, was Parent's Day on campus. The children were so excited all week, looking forward to Saturday with great anticipation. On Friday, kids were excitedly telling the volunteers, "My mom is coming tomorrow!"

On Saturday morning, all the children were dressed in their very best and gathered on the school lawn. The parents are no less excited as they stream out of the vans that have brought them from the nearest bus stop. They all come carrying a bag of food and a blanket. The families spread out under the trees and share their meal. I noticed many children happily eating ice cream treats first, since they were already melting in the heat.

As I walked through the group, individual children would call out "Rebecca! Rebecca!", motioning me over to meet their parents. It was so fun to see that many of our students have little siblings that look exactly like them.

This is Roseline and her younger sister (whose "middle" name is Rebecca!)

This is Abirami and her little "Mini Me"

This is Pavithra and her family.

The families all seem to know each other very well and they happily spent the day lounging in the shade, visiting, sleeping, and watching the children play.

At the end of the afternoon, the parents and siblings pile (and I mean PILE) onto the vans that will take them back to the bus and their long journeys home.

Rebecca, Maria Catherine and Mother

A personal highlight for me was meeting this beautiful woman.

She is the mother of Maria Catherine. We have been sponsoring Maria Catherine for the last year. She is in Second Standard and is a beautiful child. The mother, with the help of an older girl translating, expressed her gratitude to me and asked me to help Maria Catherine read better and learn English. I was touched and felt a deep conviction to continue supporting Maria Catherine until she graduates.

Maria Catherine and her Mother.

This mother and I are different in so many ways. We speak different languages, eat different foods, have different skin and hair colors. But one thing is the same. We want what is best for our children and are willing to sacrifice to make sure they get it. And for this woman, that sacrifice means only seeing her beautiful girl once a month.

As I looked through my photos from the day, that same love was evident in each of the parents' faces. I am sure that for the kids and their parents alike, Parent's Day is the best day of the month.