St. Simon's School

St. Simon’s School, located in the state of Odisha, is Helping Point’s largest project. The school was founded in 2002 and works to meet the urgent need for quality education in rural India. St. Simon’s School currently educates, feeds and cares for over 300 children, ranging in age from 4-16 years, primarily from the Dalit community (formerly the so-called “Untouchables"). Many of the students come from poor families who struggle to provide for them. Helping Point’s vision for St. Simon’s School is to offer a systematic English education to underprivileged children, with the hope that it will help to lift them, and their families, out of extreme poverty.

Helping Point employs a dedicated team of qualified teachers and support staff, many of whom come from the same region themselves and are committed to serving the students’ holistic development. By hiring these individuals, who are uniquely equipped to navigate issues faced by these children and their families, Helping Point provides much-needed employment opportunities to rural Indian communities. Both the teachers and staff members strive to provide a safe and loving environment for the young students, where they can thrive, learn and grow.

St Simon’s students routinely receive strong examination results, and many of them have gone on to college and university.