Posted on Mar 7, 2004

WHAT WE HAVE RAISED SO FAR Since Panchsheel School began in 1999 with 50 small boys and girls in a tiny rest house, in the jungle, we have been able to send over £33,700. Now there is a well built school providing a home for 450 students and twelve staff. Well over half of the money raised has come from the people of Wooler. The strong partnership forged between Wooler and Panchsheel schools has attracted funds from a variety of sources in this country. In India the local government department pays the teaching and support staff, it contributes to food and clothing for the children, who can now remain there until they reach 16. Without Panchsheel they would have had no education of any kind. It has been inspiring that Panchsheel School has received so much support from Wooler, and in particular the First School. In addition thanks to the First School office, there are no overheads in this country so that every penny given goes directly to Panchsheel. Wooler children have been able to benefit educationally from this liaison and it has been heartening to see their interest in the children of Maharashtra. LAST YEARS FUND RAISING. last year with the tremendous help of Margaret Anne Maxwell od Doddington Dairy and Anne Park at the Tankerville Arms, Wooler First School PTA raised enough money to stock a small farm on the school land. Worked by the older children this now produces milk for the youngest ones and vegetables for all. Many school leavers will take goats back with them to their villages. Our students are not destined for the cities; they will be the first literate generation of their villages and we aim to make them leaders of rural development which is so important to India Noel Roy and Peter Ayres