The Parish Magazine February 2023

feature — 3
Mark and Liz Stephen visited Karun
in South India during the autumn
2022 after no visits for 3 years
because of Covid restrictions. They
they were able to reconnect with staff,
students and the local community
to learn how badly they had been
affected during this difficult time.
It was also a good opportunity to
find out what the school and local
people need during the Covid recovery
period.
The school is still not at full capacity
after the long break — the families
needed considerable support and
encouragement to return to their
learning and written work. Staff have
been giving extra help through catch
up lessons.
The sewing classes for women
and the IT classes for local children
continue to be very successful. These
are provided free of charge to the
local community and are very much
appreciated by the students. They are
fully subscribed.
LEARNING NEW SKILLS
The sewing classes take students
from a beginner level basic hemming
to cutting and constructing blouses
skirts and gowns. The students have
access to mechanical sewing machines
and two new electrical machines were
recently added for more advanced
learners.
Participants told Liz that the skills
that they had learnt in the classes
helped them to find part time local
work.
The IT classes for local children
continue to have a very good take up
and this is provided whether or not
they are enrolled at Karun. They are
taught by the daughter of the tailor
who has just completed her degree that
was partly funded by the Trust.
These classes provide a good
opportunity for the children to extend
and develop their IT skills as well as an
opportunity to meet their friends.
Mark and Liz met the six sponsored
students that the Trust funds who are
continuing their education in other
institutions.
All the students come from
disadvantaged families who were badly
affected by Covid and were struggling
to continue their education. They
visited their families, homes, and
The Parish Magazine - February 2023 23
Karun becomes a vital hub for the community
schools. The students and families
were very appreciative of the support
given by the Trust to help them to
continue their education. The students
said that they would never have been
able to achieve what they are now
achieving.
Their families now form part of the
Karun community and will continue
to be supported and nurtured.
Mark and Liz also used their visit
to discuss with local people and Karun
staff how they can build on the success
of recent initiatives to provide greater
educational opportunities for the
wider community. The discussions
were very much welcomed.
Expanding community and
adult education services will help to
reach the widest group possible and
establish Karun as a hub that serves
the whole community.
The trustees would like to thank
everyone at St Andrew’s for the
continued support, prayers and
encouragement.
The funding enables Karun to
make a difference to the lives of
children and young people there
and gives them real hope for a better
future. Thank you!
The cash collection at St Andrew's Christingle family service on 5 February will be given to the Karun School in India