“Since childhood, I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,
but I never thought it would be possible.”

Ruby, study centre graduate and teacher

Ruby grew up in a village with a 40% literacy rate. Her father’s alcoholism and her family’s poverty made school feel like a closed door, until a study centre, run by UnitingWorld and the Church of North India’s Diocese of Amritsar, changed that.

From Grade 4, Ruby was supported right through to college, becoming the first Dalit Christian in her village to graduate!

Today she’s teaching primary school and studying for her master’s degree, working toward a role in a large public high school.

Her story started in one room, with one teacher and a handful of children, the same beginning behind a project that now reaches 9,678 people across 20 villages, training parents and leaders to organise, challenge discrimination and claim the government services they have been denied for generations.

"Without the project, I might not even be alive today." 

Bevi, Diocese Community Organiser

While pregnant with her first child, Bevi knew something was wrong. Her mother-in-law kept her home for two days, insisting on a traditional birth attendant, even as Bevi asked to go to the hospital eight kilometres away. The village had a government health worker, but Bevi was overlooked. She believes it was because she was Dalit.

Tragically, she lost her child, and nearly lost her own life too.

Afterwards, a Diocese health worker found her, and stayed through the hardest years that followed: health check-ups, nutrition support, someone who showed up each week.

In 2017, Bevi became a Community Organiser to help families get the type of love and support she received.

 When you train a community organiser, you send someone who won’t look away. Give today and help train the next Bevi to be good news for their community. 

“When I saw what education could do for children, I knew I wanted that same chance for everyone here. So when we won, we opened every door we could."

Jacob, elected local government leader

Diocese staff began training parents like Jacob to understand their rights, organise as a community, and stand for election to local government. 

In the 2024 local government elections, Dogar’s Dalit community won every seat. The change has been immediate: roads built and waterlogged land cleared, concrete homes replacing makeshift shelters, every household linked to government schemes they have been denied for generations, community-led initiatives to keep children in school and pathways into further education and employment.

“When I saw what education could do for children, I knew I wanted that same chance for everyone here. So when we won, we opened every door we could: housing, ration cards, every government scheme people had been shut out of for years.”

"The study centre was the foundation of all my aspirations. Now my life goal is to become an international player."

Khushdeep, India Kabaddi and Rugby player

Khushdeep grew up in a village where girls were expected to marry young. Sport was never encouraged.

The study centre run by the Diocese of Amritsar opened the door first: academic support, then, through the Diocese's Lily Sports Academy, her first real chance to play.

She's since represented India in national Kabaddi through a partner academy, and was selected for the National Rugby Camp in 2024. 

 When you support a study centre, you open a door that’s usually closed to girls. Give today and help keep a study centre running for a child like Khushdeep.