The Managalakara Home and Education Centre is situated in an arid and rocky area in India where temperatures can reach 48-50 C. The low fertility, poor agricultural yields and prolonged drought conditions in recent years have contributed to the extreme poverty in the area. As a result, approximately 30% of the children are orphaned and others are destitute or abandoned by desperately poor or sick parents.

Mangalakara caters for 300 abanonded and destitute children; it contains excellent educational facilities, science labs, a library and 3 playgrounds as well as residential dormitories. There are 28 highly qualified teachers and 20 domestic staff. The educational success rate of children who have attended Mangalakara is tremendous and in 2010, the first 5 people who had been educated in Mangalakara graduated with first class honours degrees. In addition to academic achievement, the multi-skills school educates youngsters in practical skills such as textiles and agriculture, which enhance their employability and enable them to make a sustainable living.

We need your help to bring clean water to the school!

SQ Foundation has committed to provide funding for the installation of a new large capacity water storage tank. Currently, all water needs to be pumped up with electricity. The area suffers from regular drought and typically there are two to three long power cuts per day making it very difficult to keep an adequate supply of water available in the small water tanks. A new storage tank would provide enough water supply for one day. Another advantage of this type of water storage is that the Government would grant the home 3 hours of free electricity during the night, making a large financial saving of nearly £300 per month on electricity costs.

Other projects at Mangalakara

SQ Foundation recently funded the construction of the "Linda Prema Hall", a new multi-purpose structure that serves as a dining hall, a space for Bhajans, cultural events, drama programs and exam hall. The school encourages the children's love for singing, dancing and drama as it gives them much needed confidence that they often lack when they first arrive at the home.

The overall goal of Mangalakara is to give loving care and a good education to orphaned and destitute children. Project objective include:

1. To provide a loving home environment for the children
2. To provide a good all round education
3. To teach good manners, integrity, wisdom and social skills
4. To help young people learn useful practical skills that will enable them to make a prosperous living

Community Involvement

Mangalakara supports the local community by providing nearly 50 jobs within both the home and the school.

Since the launch of the Trust, over 1500 young men and women who have attended the Multi Skills school in Mangalakara have been placed in reputable employment. Young men and women from the poorest of the poor villages are now able to stretch their horizons and not only find work that develops potential but provides them with an income which also enables them to support their families. Many of these people would otherwise have remained unemployed, surviving below the poverty line.