Sarah, Chennai

Four months into the new academic year, Sarah David has finally received the school books. Sarah is now in Grade 12, the final year of school. The private school in Chennai that Sarah attended had refused to give her the books until her parents cleared the fee due from the last academic year. Apart from the pandemic, the recent past has not been kind to Sarah’s family. Her father, David Chelladurai, who was working with a private television channel, met with an accident in March 2021 and couldn’t work for a few months. Even earlier, his salary was barely enough to meet the family’s monthly expenses. Though the school allowed Sarah to start Grade 12, they insisted the dues should be cleared first. 

An NGO approached Hope Unlimited, which has paid the dues and part of this year’s school fee for Sarah. The teenager has finally got her books and can now focus on finishing school.

(September 2021)