'Remarkable effort'' to help children pursue their studies

Dubai, Jun 4 (UNI) In a remarkable effort, three children here are raising money to help their underpriveleged friends in India to pursue studies.

The trio, Ayesha Patel, 16, her younger sister, Aditi Patel, 10, and Anoush Sardesai Sadat, 7, are raising money to deposit the school fees of such students, who will be the first generation of educated members of their family. They have already raised school fees for 65 children, Gulf News reported.

They are raising about Rs 12,000, annual school fees, for up to 600 children residing in rural areas of India so they can attend Art of Living Foundation schools.

Their target is to send 600 children to school but according to Madhu Bhatnagar, the Art of Living youth coordinator in Dubai, up to 1,000 children are on the waiting lists to attend one of the 48 schools.

The children are from the tribal and rural areas where education doesn't reach because of poor economic conditions of the families.

Parents prefer to work their children in the fields instead of sending them to school as they bring money for the family, Ms Bhatnagar said.

UNI XC KD HT1340