JONG TRUST
EDUCATION
Martin Richard Raju, with a Master’s degree in social work, believes that every child deserves an opportunity to lead a healthy, productive life. Convinced that lasting improvement in the social and economic condition of the poor
comes only through education, in 1996 Martin founded JONG (Just Organization for Natural Growth) to serve 50 rural, low-caste villages near Karaikudi, India. At that time, it was rare for children from these villages to progress
beyond the 5th grade because their parents, impoverished and illiterate, could give them little or no support. JONG’s initial aim was to prevent child labor by establishing after-school education centers for the children. The academic
tutoring given by the teachers at the centers helped the children succeed in school. Now it is rare if a child does not complete the 10th grade, and many continue to the 12th grade and beyond if their grades earn them free university
tuition which over half do.
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM
Currently, Global Pearls supports about a thousand children in 32 after-school centers. During the school year, our children receive academic help and encouragement, and they are excelling in school as a result. During school holidays,
the focus shifts to enrichment activities, such as singing, elocution, drawing, dancing, sports and games. The children also receive instruction on environmental degradation and plant seedlings to encourage environmental care. Many
of our children participated in inter-school competitions at the district level and won prizes – a tremendous boost to their self-confidence.
EMPOWERING CHILDREN TO BE LEADERS
As part of Martin’s after-school program, each village cluster has a “children’s club” whose primary goal is to build the self-confidence of the children. Club leaders help them choose an issue they want to tackle, strategize how
to accomplish their goals, and implement their strategies. At first, government officers paid little attention to the children, but they persevered. Thanks to their efforts, one village now has a well, a water tank, and piping to
three locations where people can fill up their containers with clean water. Another group of children once used a muddy, flooded road in the rainy season to get to school, but now, thanks to their efforts, the road is paved. And
a school now has toilets for girls where there had been none. The children are learning that by banding together and persisting, they can be powerful agents of change!
BICYCLES TO PROTECT AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT
There is an elementary school in almost every village in India, so young children do not need to travel far to get to school. Secondary schools require a longer commute, and this exposes adolescent girls to the dangers of sexual
assault – a very real risk for low-caste girls. So, parents would not allow their daughters to continue their education past the 5th grade until our partner Martin found a solution to this problem that is surprisingly simple: bicycles!
Commuting by bicycle keeps girls safe and eases parents’ concerns. Now girls in these villages are as likely as the boys to pursue higher levels of education.
MATERNAL & INFANT HEALTH
In India, maternal and infant mortality have been severe problems. The Indian government provides free healthcare at regional centers, but the women of impoverished, low-caste villages often have no way to access that care. In 2016,
women’s groups from Martin’s 50 villages pleaded with him to address the issue. Martin’s solution was to create teams of traveling nurses who visit the villages each month to monitor the health of the women – testing for gestational
diabetes, preeclampsia, kidney failure, and other health risks. They also conduct workshops where expectant mothers are trained in important prenatal topics such as proper nutrition, practices for avoiding infections, and the risk
of home births (dangerous for women who don’t have easy access to medical care if complications arise). After a baby’s birth, the nurses continue to monitor its health for two more years. Mothers are taught the importance of breast
feeding, good hygiene, and how to treat diarrhea – the most common cause of infant death. The nurses also arrange vaccination clinics so children can receive the required immunizations. The result? Only one maternal and zero infant
deaths have occurred since the project began. The program has been so successful, in fact, that many more villages have requested they be added. With support from Global Pearls, Martin’s traveling nurse program now serves 200 villages.
INTESTINAL WORMS
When Covid began devastating communities worldwide, our traveling nurses taught villagers how to protect themselves from Covid, distributed masks, and conducted a vaccination campaign that ensured 100% of our villagers were vaccinated.
But we also realized that the best way to help our villagers survive was by improving their core health. The two most common maladies our families faced were anemia (80% of our women tested positive for anemia) and intestinal worms
(63% suffered intestinal cramping and diarrhea from the worms, and the worms exacerbated nutritional issues). We now use our traveling nurses to treat intestinal worms and conduct workshops to train villagers how to incorporate high-iron
foods into their diet. This effort has expanded to 200 villages, and it has become an ongoing part of our healthcare program.
COST EFFECTIVE
Projects that are led by locals are very cost-efficient. We are able to provide the education program, including after-school centers, children’s clubs, and bicycles for girls starting 6th grade, for an average of just $30 per child
per year. Our health programs, including monthly maternal testing and evaluation, vaccination clinics, and medication for intestinal worms, costs just $100 per village per year. We invite you to partner in this effort where every
donation has a big impact!
