Hello friends,

My name is Wendy Knowles. In February 2025, I had the privilege of spending several weeks in Tiruvannamalai, South India, where I got to know the beautiful Arunachula Village School — a grassroots initiative offering free, creative, and holistic education to children from surrounding rural villages.

This remarkable school, inspired by Steiner/Waldorf principles and deeply rooted in Indian values, provides a joyful and nurturing space where over 292 learn in both Tamil and English. All of these students come from families facing economic hardship, and for the girls in particular, the school can be a life-changing alternative to early marriage.

What struck me most was the sense of love and community. Teachers act as big sisters, aunties, and uncles — supporting the children both inside and outside the classroom. Students grow not only in knowledge but also in confidence, creativity, and compassion. Each class even tends its own garden as part of the school’s focus on sustainability.

But like many grassroots efforts, the school faces challenges. A key one right now: transport.

Every day, two school buses travel to remote villages to ensure children can attend safely and consistently. Unfortunately, one of the buses (a 2010 model) is now beyond repair, and urgently needs replacing.

The school is seeking to purchase a safe, efficient 20-seater bus at a cost of $25,000 USD. Without it, many children — especially girls — may lose their only reliable way to access education.

How You Can Help:

I'm helping raise funds to support this essential purchase.

Every donation, no matter the size, brings this community one step closer to keeping children in school and breaking the cycle of poverty.

Please take a moment to watch this short video to see the school in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMVWRm0bWS8&t=333s

Thank you for reading — and for any support you can offer.

In collaboration and friendship,

Wendy Knowles