Stepping Stone Centers
For only $3 per month, a child in India will receive a foundation of love and hope on which to build for a lifetime
Program Overview
At each Stepping Stone tutorial center, located in villages where Serve India Ministries is at work, school age children (6 - 10) from mostly poor families gather each evening to receive help with their school lessons, projects, and homework. These children are loved, cared for, and given spiritual foundation stones as they are served through this program. The project is an outreach tool and complements the Gospel work being done in the community by the pastor who oversees the center.
Why Stepping Stone Centers are Important:
- The government-run, Indian village schools do provide free education; however, 60 - 70% of the children from poor and illiterate families drop out because their parents are not able to provide the necessary home support for their education. Without an education, these children will find themselves trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty perpetuated throughout rural India.
- Most children in SIM’s programs come from the lower strata of society. They are more than just poor and illiterate. They are the Dalits or “untouchables” who are not allowed by their religion to rise above the subhuman status they have been given within Indian society. At least 300 million people fall into this category. These children need extra help to overcome this social discrimination. By government legislation the official caste system no longer exists in India, but centuries of cultural tradition continue to offer little hope for millions of these people.
- A Stepping Stone Tutoring Center is a practical and effective way for missionaries to show the love and compassion of Jesus Christ as they share His Gospel message with those who need to hear.
How the Stepping Stone Program Works:
- A minimum of 50 school-age children are enrolled at the center.
- The children come to the center for two hours after the school day and receive tutorial help.
- The pastor and volunteers from the church run the center and give spiritual input to the life of each child by teaching Bible stories, songs, and how to pray to Jesus. Several part-time teaching staff are hired to help the children with their school lessons, projects, and homework.
- On Saturday, children are invited to attend a three-hour session of fun activities and skill-building lessons. The children will play games, learn Bible stories and songs, and receive instruction concerning better health and hygiene habits, good manners, and life skills.
How to Link your Life with a Stepping Stone Center:
- The cost to run a Stepping Stone Tutoring Center is $150 per month for 50 children. In other words, for only $3 a child can receive 25 days of help each month. The potential for impact is enormous. Please pray about joining us in this important endeavor.
Stepping Stones PDF
