Sukrupa: Creating a Future
At the CII 2010 Brand Summit in Bangalore last week I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Krupalatha Martin Dass, founder and Executive Director of Sukrupa. Krupa, as she is known, created the school to serve the underprivileged and "slum" children -- a term that while factually accurate also points up the kind of labeling that would otherwise limit these bright young spirits. Krupa's passion is ensuring that no such limitation is placed on any child.
The day that I visited I saw and talked with students ranging from age 2 1/2 onwards to nearly 20. They are schooled in English. Ironically, I was the one speaking Hindi! I met Raj Kumar, an 11 year old designing a water filtration system built from discarded bottles (see photos) and Anne Marie--the only child brave enough to speak to me in Hindi--who at 6 years old has penmanship and structured story writing skills that would be the envy of anyone, anywhere, at several grade levels higher. I met 4 young men, nearing graduation, all possessing exceptional clarity on their futures as they continue into advanced education and professional careers. All in all, I visited with about 200 students, and was left with a feeling of inspiration and wonder.
As I talked with students, I saw in them my own child, Broch. Broch is enrolled in Leander ISD's "International Baccalaureate" and QUEST programs. Check out this entry from his blog and you'll get a sense of the achievement that is "expected" in many families. Note in the photo his kart racing trophies, his keyboard, his personal computer, and the speaker kit he rigged up following an article he saw in MAKE Magazine. Now look at the photo of Raj Kumar: It is identical, and in particular the activated looks of wonder, curiosity and self-pride in both boys eyes. The difference is that for Raj, this was very likely <i>not</i> expected. Through the Sukrupa program, an expectation for his personal growth and development is now firmly established: Raj is thriving as all children he should, creating a new future for himself, his family, his peers, and his country as he grows.
What's important to recognize is that none of the children I saw would have the future that is now theirs were it not for Sukrupa. One woman, and a dedicated team of about twenty teachers, artists and cooks (the children get regular, nutritious meals at the school). This is the kind of visible, life-enabling difference that one person can make. This is Krupa's calling.
Take a look at Sukrupa and consider sponsoring a child or supporting the school: Tell three others about it as well, and bring the future that so many of us already have to those who, for a simple lack of someone telling that child that "you matter in this world" will otherwise never know it.
