Partners in Aid commenced a Child Sponsorship program in conjunction with SEDS in southern India in 1995. Many of the local children were seen to be disadvantaged with a visit to the area in 1994 showing that the children from poorer families had no education at all.

Since the commencement of the sponsorship program nine years ago many schools in the area now have clean water, toilet facilities and greatly improved educational resources. These have been brought about by sponsorship support and through allocations of funds to projects which assist all children in the area.

Sponsored children receive books and uniforms twice yearly, and have monthly visits to SEDS for cultural and sporting activities, and health checks. An added benefit to the sponsorship program has been the school development projects, which has seen school grounds cleared for play areas, and small horticultural plots developed to teach the children the basic skills of planting trees and food crops.

It is easy to appreciate the significance of the support of sponsors when witnessing the children being issued with their basic supplies of school equipment. To see the faces of these children, who have so little, simply light up with joy is a very emotive experience.