Tuition Paid Meets Multiple Needs

During 2020-2021, many PRINT projects experienced complete shutdowns of all their centralized programs due to COVID. This was certainly true for Prakasam Coaching Center. Prakasam runs after-school programs boosting literacy in underprivileged rural communities by providing needed resources (including a meal) and training older siblings to teach younger ones. As they became decentralized, it became more important for older students to become coaches to younger kids in local villages.

Education is an important social impact goal. Some 750 million adults – two thirds of them women – remained illiterate in 2016. PRINT has several projects aiming at changing those metrics. However, educating kids during COVID took a dramatic change. Nearly 1/2 of the world’s children were out of centralized learning. While some countries could invest resources to provide remote learning or keep teachers employed, nearly 2/3 of the world’s school aged children did not have internet connection at home.

One of the other main struggles for Prakasam Coaching Center was the lack of financial stability for teachers, staff, and local families which impacted families paying for school as well as for schools to remain open. Although they could not help everyone, they were able to pay tuition for several students. Not only did this help keep the children learning, it kept some teachers and staff employed. They were still able to maintain some academic home visits or outdoor sessions.

“Ten children and one college student were able to stay in their classes because we met their tuition needs. During the pandemic, many parents lost their jobs and could not pay the tuition required for school. By paying for the tuition portion of their school fees we provided income to the school which they used to give a partial salary to the teachers and others still on staff. Several staff had not received anything for two months.”

They also hired several unemployed local workers to support local families experiencing hardship due to COVID. Those workers performed tasks at the institute and helped distribute food to over 450 families. Prakasam also helped several families with medical expenses, housing, and other basic needs.

Learn more about Prakasam Coaching Center and donate to their cause here.