A large majority of Project Education India (PEI) graduates will go to college or university.  

When PEI began in 1996, many students didn't continue to higher education, but due to your faithful support over the years, the tide has turned. In fact, 80% of 2025 PEI graduates are currently enrolled in higher education! 

Graduates often pursue degrees in nursing, teaching, commerce, engineering, or tech. Some students attend vocational school. 

Like in the United States, Tamil Nadu has both public and private institutions for higher education. However, unlike in the United States, admittance to these institutions is purely based on students' exam scores. Students take their twelfth-grade exams in March, and exam results are usually available in early June. 

Their scores determine whether they will attend a public or private school, and they don't apply to multiple schools. LPGM Sponsor Relations Coordinator (SRCs) provide college counseling to graduates and assist with matriculation. 

We encourage interested sponsors to give to LPGM's general Extended Study Program. The program supports PEI graduates in need of financial assistance to pursue their academic goals. The SRCs recommend fund recipients to our U.S.-based team based on greatest need, and our U.S. team works with our India team to distribute the funds.  

However, we can't guarantee that your graduate is one of the students receiving extended study support. We intentionally don’t follow the sponsorship model of one-to-one support for this program, because it is logistically impossible. SRCs are usually not able to stay in touch with most of the students due to logistical constraints.  

While you may not be supporting your specific sponsored student, you are supporting their classmates and peers who worked hard to get to this point and who have faced similar challenges and barriers.  

If you're not in a position to contribute to the Extended Study Program, we invite you to pray for your student and other PEI graduates. You may also consider sharing their story with people in your community, thereby amplifying their experiences and attracting new supporters.  

If your student qualifies for Extended Study, our India team will stay in touch with them. SRCs will visit them at school and will send reports to the U.S.-based team. 

If they aren’t supported by extended study, it’s unfortunately not possible to keep track of students, as mentioned above. 

You're welcome to email office@lutheranpartners.org to ask if your graduate is receiving support from LPGM through Extended Study.  

Some PEI graduates get married or become caretakers within their families. Other students unfortunately don't have high enough exam scores to be admitted to college or vocational school. 

While this can be disappointing for sponsors, boarding home staff, and the LPGM team, it's helpful to remember that graduating from twelfth grade is a big deal for these students.

Because of your steadfast support, they were able to spend many years in school with consistent nutritious meals, healthcare, emotional support, and safe housing in the boarding homes. Their lives have been improved regardless of their future plans.  

Keeping in touch with your student is unfortunately not possible. Because students end up all over the region, it’s hard to keep track of their contact information. Phone numbers in Tamil Nadu commonly change. Students may not have regular email. A clean break is generally the best course of action. 

You can trust that you have set them up for success through your years of dedication and support. It's time for them to spread their wings and soar.  

We know that goodbyes can be hard, and that you are invested in their well-being. Take graduation as an opportunity to celebrate them and their achievements. You may send them a letter in January or February to wish them luck on their final twelfth-grade exams in March. 

This is also a good time to start reflecting on, and praying about, the possibility of starting a new relationship with a student. The next generation of students will be grateful for your continued investment in their dreams.  

You'll receive a letter or email from LPGM in March or April about next steps, and you'll be able to indicate if, and how, you'd like to continue supporting PEI.  

You have fulfilled your financial obligation to your student. Thank you!  

We strongly discourage sponsors from sending funds directly to students. For starters, financial regulations in India make this difficult.  

In addition, complicated power dynamics can come into play, and we don’t want to put sponsors or students at risk of fraud.  

When you sponsor a student through PEI, LPGM has checks and balances in place to make sure that funds are being used appropriately. If you choose to support a student outside of this context, it can get complicated and risky, so it's best to avoid creating this dynamic.  

While it is incredibly generous to want to continue supporting your student, now is the time to empower them to be independent and to trust that the quality education they received will take them far.   

The decision to connect with your student is ultimately up to you. If you decide to stay in contact, we suggest that you approach it with caution. 

If you encounter any issues, please know that you can reach out to LPGM for support. 

You can expect to be assigned to a new student in September. It takes a number of months to verify which students have returned to the boarding homes, to determine their needs, and to finish the administrative tasks associated with the reassignment process. 

The U.S.-based team receives finalized rosters from the SRCs at the end of the summer and begins assigning students to sponsors. 

This is a question that we receive often, and your confusion makes sense. 

In short, we keep the graduated student’s record attached to your sponsor account until we can assign you to a new student. We keep that relationship open to allow you to see your student’s messages in the sponsor portal. 

However, if you have questions about this process, you are always welcome to call us at 612.823.5058 or email us at office@lutheranpartners.org. 

Yes! The PEI General fund is a great way to stay connected to this program without a one-on-one relationship with a student. 

Giving to this fund allows you to directly support boarding home operational costs (food, uniforms, books and school supplies, staff, educational support, health and hygiene). 

It’s easy and quick to convert your monthly support. Reach out to Laura Feile (laura@lutheranpartners.org) or John Anthony (john@lutheranpartners.org) regarding next steps. 

If you'd like to support all of LPGM’s programs around the world, you can become a Sustaining Neighbor through our monthly giving program.