By Marg Csapo

(Published in the May 2014 issue of Annuntiatus)

The bright-eyed and smiling students of the Vimukti School for Girls, a unit of Vimukti Santha, a registered, non-profit, charitable organization send their thanks and good wishes to every member of IASE from Jaipur. This school seeks out girls in the urban slum areas and offers free education, from pre-school to senior secondary (grade 12). This includes free uniforms, shoes, school bags, transportation, books and notebooks, emphasizing the need for education of the girl child in a country where "every sixth girl child's death is due to gender discrimination, where two thirds of girls cannot read or write, where over two million children, mainly girls between the ages of 5-15 are forced into prostitution and sexual slavery“ according to World Vision India (Outlook, March 17, 2014, page 19).

When the Volunteer Service Committee first visited the school, the number of students was below 200. In 2014, registration stands at 300 and the goal is to reach 500, which is the full capacity. Girls are admitted from families whose monthly joint earning is below 7,000 Rupees (about US $120).