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Vanessa Gilbert, originally from Australia, lives in Ohio, where she raised her four children.
She is pictured here with her granddaughter Memphis, who is the same age as her sponsor child Jagadeeswari.
Vanessa Gilbert met Janet Kramer, team coordinator for the Aruna Partnership Sponsorship Program, in the Cleveland Heights food co-op in Ohio thirty years ago. Originally from Australia, Vanessa had recently moved to the area from San Francisco, and didn’t know many people. Vanessa and Janet struck up a conversation and a wonderful friendship began that is still going strong to this day.
In January of 2025, Vanessa realized a long-held dream to visit India with Janet. Vanessa made the most of the 3-week trip, visiting the weaving unit of the handcraft project, singing with widows at the Old Age Home, walking the 11 km route around sacred Arunachala, and exploring the bustling town of Tiruvannamalai.
She visited both of the Shanthimalai schools and met her sponsor student, 3rd grader Jagadeeswari.
“Seeing her come out of her classroom – she is the most beautiful little girl,” said Vanessa. “She was full of poise and so dignified with her apricot-colored dress and flowers in her hair.”
Jagadeeswari is an only child, and lives with her mother. After her father’s passing, her mother has worked as a day laborer.
Jagadeeswari’s mother earns about $100 a month, which is not enough to live on and cover her daughter’s school fees. Because of this, and her mother’s dedication to her daughter’s education, Jagadeeswari receives a full scholarship.
Janet’s work with the Sponsorship Program inspired Vanessa to become a sponsor. “Hearing about the genesis of the school, and the ways sponsorship is giving local kids opportunities they may not have had otherwise, was probably the most important factor for me. Learning about new programs like Joyful Learning and hearing how committed Aruna Partnership and local teachers are to adding and adjusting programs in creative ways, spoke to me strongly. Finally, Janet’s personal stories and photos from classroom visits and time spent with her own sponsored students over the years, were just heartwarming and irresistible. It was the easiest ‘yes’ ever to become a sponsor!”
Through a translator, Jagadeeswari told
Vanessa she wants to be a lawyer.
Later in the conversation, Vanessa assured Jagadeeswari that her education is hers, no matter what path she feels to pursue.
Vanessa has thought deeply about what it means to have a good education. Her four children were homeschooled, then attended a Waldorf school which Vanessa loved for its emphasis on nature, imagination, arts & crafts, gardening, and other hands-on activities. Children learn cooperatively and competition between students is minimized. Vanessa and Janet supported and encouraged each other as they both raised their children with these values. All of Vanessa’s four kids then went to traditional high schools.
Vanessa wants Jagadeeswari to know that she would never be disappointed in any path Jagadeeswari decides to pursue, whether it’s law or arts, science, or something else.
“I don’t want gratitude. My reward is knowing I’ve helped to even the playing field for Jagadeeswari just a bit.”
Have you considered sponsoring a child?
$500/year opens up a world of new possibility that will change a child’s life.
Yes!
Most of our students graduate from high school and go on to find meaningful employment. One touching indication of the program’s success: more than 10% of our teachers are alumni of the school who completed college degrees in Education and then returned to their villages to help other young people in need.
It provides:
In cases of parental illness or unemployment – situations which typically would end schooling for poor village children – we provide extra support to the family.
For $500/year, you can open up a world of new possibility that will change a child’s life.
You may choose to donate annually or biannually, or divide your support into quarterly or monthly contributions.
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