Extended Study

With around 150 young people graduating each year from the boarding homes that LPGM supports in India, it has been the dream of both LPGM and the Arcot Lutheran Church to give direction and opportunity for these students to have specialized training to find a secure job. Now several inexpensive programs have opened, including a community college and a medical lab program that will allow many more students to learn a skill for future work.

In 2004-05 about eight students were supported by sponsors in vocational/career programs. Now more than 50 students are supported with even more interest in extended study for the year ahead! When children go on to extended study programs we contact their sponsors and ask them to continue to support their child at the regular rate of $240. This will make a huge difference in their options for productive work and raising their economic level in society.

Joseph Gnanaraj, LPGM Director in India said “Thank you so much for the kind support for this extended study. This is a real meaningful step in their life. From our experience we can say that extended study helps the child to build his or her life. About 95% of those who finished extended study in the last two years have gotten jobs. They not only support themselves, they support their family and brothers and sisters. The child gets pride in his or her life through education because of Christian Ministry.”

When asked what this program meant to her, one young girl responded by thanking her sponsor for giving her the gift of a good future. She said, “I would never have had such an opportunity without the help of my sponsor.” Yes, we can make a difference in someone’s life – directly and for so little!