FreeSchools World Literacy

FREESCHOOLS WORLD LITERACY is a support organisation that has grown out of my visit in the year 2000 to a poor convent-run evening school class in Bihar, India. Read a little more about FreeSchools below.

STATEMENT OF GOALS AND PURPOSE

The purpose of FreeSchools World Literacy is to provide free education in order to break the cycle of ignorance and poverty that leaves millions in hopeless despair. The organization provides free literacy programs; teacher employment and training; income-producing skills, health education; food and clothing; and is documenting changes in the wellbeing of the community as a result of its programs. By providing ongoing funds and scholarships for the existing and planned new schools, FreeSchools World Literacy hopes to replicate its model throughout India and other developing countries of the world.

FreeSchools World Literacy Objectives are as follows:

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

FreeSchools World Literacy — Australia — President's Report

It has been over two decades now since Mark Bloomfield and I travelled to Motihari Evening School in Bihar State, India in 2000 — a single schoolhouse for the poor children of the village being run by Sister Crescence. There, I realized for the first time in my life, the real need for free education for the poor, and the ability of education to drastically change the lives of those who were lucky enough to get it. I also saw the benefits of that knowledge spread from the student back to their families and to the local community.

Mark (left) and Robert (2nd. left) with FreeSchools teachers and students, Bihar, India

Robert with girls class, Bihar, India

Since that time, donors in Australia have raised a total of $107,806 towards our educational efforts. In Bihar State, we have 1148 students being taught by 27 teachers at 23 FreeSchools World Literacy funded centres.

A total of $5,815 was raised for FreeSchools World Literacy aid projects during the 2021 reporting period for the Free Schools in Bihar, India, thanks to the fundraising efforts of a dedicated group of regular donors including Melissa Alldis, Ian & Isobel Esmore, Marion Lesaffre, Julian Martin, Chelsea McLean, Bob Mills, Ken Morley, Che Stapleton, Kathleen & Trevor Swadling, Andrew & Delphine Swadling, Margaret Walls, the Coenraads Family’s Francis C. Nieves Memorial Fund, the Forest Kirk Women’s Fellowship. This also includes student scholarships raised by the Forest Kirk KidzChurch (for Shilpi), Warrick & Lorna Brady (for Lalmuni), the Forest Kirk Men’s Group. (FreeSchools World Literacy annual registration fees were donated and paid directly by Secretary Ian Esmore, and the FreeSchools website is maintained by Graeme Chapman).

FreeSchools World Literacy maintains high-quality audited annual accounts and reportage presented to Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) standard.

Finally, I would especially like to thank the FreeSchools World Literacy Committee of Management, many of whom have been members and donors since the Committee’s inception.

Dr. Robert Coenraads,
President, FreeSchools World Literacy (Australia)

P.S. If any of you feel moved to support FreeSchools World Literacy in some way, please feel free to contact me at freeschools@robertcoenraads.com.au

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Or, to save fees, you could make your donation directly into the FreeSchools World Literacy bank account:

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SPECIAL STORIES

First-hand accounts of FreeSchools work and experiences, including,

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FREESCHOOLS ARCHIVES

A general collection of FreeSchools documents.

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For more information on FreeSchools World Literacy, please visit the organisation's website at www.freeschools.org