The school was founded and is run by a young couple, Teresa and Pawan Kumar.
Sheela worked for seven years with Mother Teresa and Pawan received
his master's degree in social work in Delhi. They met and decided that
their calling was to start a school for a few handicapped children in a
village not far from Varanasi. Originally, the Pawans took in only
handicapped children; but eventually they decided that including
normal children would be advantageous to both groups. The fact that
parents of normal students are eager to have their children at
Premjyoti speaks volumes for the quality of the education offered.
The condition of many of the chidren is heartbreaking. It isn't just that they are in such bad condition, but that many of their problems would be so simple to solve in this country--decent braces, a hearing aid. For instance, the boy at the right in this picture was in an accident and the bone in his left leg was improperly set. As a result, his leg is permanently bent at a forty-five degree angle making it impossible for him to walk. The orthopedic help necessary to repair his leg is simply beyond the community's means.
The Pawans receive no help from the government, but, rather, depend upon donations from supporters. Each of us felt humbled by the Pawans selflessness and dedication, and we all left committed to helping this couple in some way. Actually, helping will be easy because the school can use everything--books, pencils, pens, maps, and, of course, money. Eventually, the Pawans hope to build a place to keep a few children overnight so that students who are just out of rickshaw range can be accommodated. If you or your students or your friends would like to help this tiny miracle prosper, you can get in touch with Pawan Kumar c/o the Premjyoti Society,Chiraigaon, Varanasi 22112(U.P.)India