Update for Dornakal

We are delighted to be able to give an update after our school community's fantastic fundraising effort in the summer term for the DDEM School in Dornakal.

Since 2008 we have had a partnership with the Dornakal Diocesan Schools in the Cathedral compound at Dornakal, Telangana, India. We are partnered especially with the Dornakal Diocesan English Medium (DDEM) school and since 2013 have been sponsoring students who, without funding, would not be able to afford their education. The DDEM School receives no government funding and has to charge minimal fees to attend. The pupils who we sponsor are from very poor families or are orphans with no relatives. 

As well as continuing to raise money for the sponsorship fund and sponsoring 16 pupils, this year we were also asked to raise money to dig a water bore well in the school grounds as the previous bore well had dried up. The bores are dug 20 -30m or more into the ground to find water and then it is pumped and provided as a water fountain. It is otherwise very expensive to bring water into the school on a daily basis and is also not as hygienic. The construction of a water bore well costs approximately £600. The heat this year in Dornakal has been excessive and schools were shut two weeks early for the summer holidays because of it.

We are now delighted to have been informed that the bore well has been constructed in a corner of the school grounds and there is now water - this is a wonderful gift.

The school is in full swing with 95 pupils from 4-16, with King’s supporting 16 pupils through the sponsorship fund. The pupils have just sat half yearly assessments which are exams all pupils in India sit to assess their progress according to the education department’s requirements.  They are looking forward to Children’s Day on November 14^th and will celebrate the day with prizes and a sports day where they will play football and cricket as well as receive small gifts – soap, sweets for example from the Bishop’s wife Vijaya.

The school has been designated a green school so each child has planted a tree in the school or around it.  The area around Dornakal used to be jungle so they are hoping to reintroduce as many of the trees as possible which used to grow in the area.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who helped us raise the money to ensure this project could go ahead and make such a difference to the pupils of Dornakal.