Kaveri is a real star. You might have noticed — from my regular postings — that I’m impressed with her. She’s personable, a smart cookie and a wonderful help for me in the new challenging situation without Manjula by my side.

Manjula’s Mysore and I are committed to supporting Kaveri where we can and sponsoring her education. We hope some of our community of guests help out a bit too. But what options are the best?

So I had to do some research. I read up about it,

I have two adult sons and a granddaughter, my first career was as a social worker with children and families, then a manager of welfare services in government, worked on developing partnerships in the UK and India but you can never know too much, obviously. This is very challenging for all concerned.

So I’ve got a bit of experience at all sorts of different levels, communities and cultures.

But I know you can never have enough knowledge, insights, awareness, empathy and understanding. Even more challenging, I’m not part of the family and need to be completely in tune with their needs and wishes.

I’ve discussed the situation with a network I’ve created of educationalists, social workers, psychologists

But most importantly fully involved (including visits to schools) her mum, and madam herself.

so what’s to do?

There is a clear preference, from the family, for Kaliyuva Mane — A school FOR children and home for learning founded by M R Ananth Kumar.

It’s a free residential school for children in Kenchalagudu on the outskirts of Mysore.

I first visited the school on a cycle yatra over ten years ago. It was featured in my article

It’s child centred

It focuses on the needs of the child and so it is outside the mainstream system. It’s similar to the alternative schools found around the world.

But it’s residential.

I wonder if that’s best for an eight year old maybe in the circumstances its exactly what’s required.

You might be wondering, how did it get to this? who is Kaveri and why am I proposing that we support her?