Rising Star offers a life-altering opportunity to these children. At their parent's request, a child is placed within a Rising Star home where they receive the life necessities that they would otherwise go without. This placement greatly increases the chances of not contracting leprosy and allows us to help create a promising future for each child. A glimpse into a Rising Star home reveals a clean and cheerful sanctuary, staffed by loving caregivers and volunteers committed to the well-being and growth of the children.   The children are provided daily educational activities, developmental activities, and the opportunity to simply "play"-a rare luxury for a child of the Leprosy colonies.   They are also afforded an opportunity to learn personal and group responsibility.   Most importantly, they are hugged and encouraged, giving them a new sense of self-worth.

A Family: In a Rising Star home, a child is placed into a "family" that includes 12 children and at least one loving "House Mother." They receive love and attention in this environment and experience normal family relationships. The house mothers gently encourage and motivate each child to overcome various disabilities and emotional scars from their childhood.

Rising Star also places a high premium on strengthening the natural family relationships these children already have. To that end, parents are required to visit their child at least once a month, and the children are sent home twice yearly for extended vacation time. As the children grown in the Rising Star home, they are taught to be proud of the family they came from and to honor their parents' sacrifice in allowing them this opportunity to rise above the stigma of the Leprosy colonies. These children are encouraged to love and respect their natural families.

Food: It goes without saying that most of these children arrive at Rising Star severely malnourished. We provide healthy meals three times daily, as well as nutritious snacks, as outlined by a professional dietician.   The quality and abundance of the food makes a huge difference in the well-being of each child, both physically and emotionally.

Medical & Dental Care:

Rising Star Outreach provides for all the children's medical and dental care, including vaccinations and bi yearly check ups. In addition, we teach the children hygiene skills that greatly improve their overall health. Most of the children have never received basic vaccinations and typically arrive already in developing stages of several different debilitating diseases.   For example, in one of our toddler homes (housing 30 children), several had the beginning stages of leprosy and several more had TB.   Almost all had parasites, scabies, lice, and various skin diseases.   Catching these diseases in their initial stages and providing treatment early saves much suffering, deformities, and in some cases, their lives.

It is also rare for an incoming child to have ever seen a dentist. Their teeth are usually already in deteriorating conditions due to their inadequate diets and the fact that they have never brushed their teeth. Providing dental care through both nutrition and professional dental visits helps reverse this condition.

Education: Education elevates a Leprosy Colony child from mere survival to being able to create opportunities for both himself and others. The Rising Star school recognizes that many of these children crave learning but have been denied the opportunity. While public schooling in India is a possibility, most colony children are not in a position to take full advantage of it. Some are even taken out daily to beg.   When they do attend school, they often drop out early due to the disrespect and disdain received from both teachers and students. The Rising Star school provides a warm, inviting environment where curiosity is encouraged. Within the school, a child is taught among other things, English. English is the chosen language of businesses within India and is a great stepping-stone to attaining a good job when the child is grown. Knowing English can mean a 400-500% difference in salary for the average Indian. Computer literacy and skills are also taught. A child leaves Rising Star well equipped to survive and excel in India's fast-growing economy.

Social Development:

As a part of a small "family", as well as the larger Rising Star home community, the children are guided in developing relationships. Instead of sitting on a corner as a beggar, or being shunned by a stigma they can't understand, they learn to develop friendships and self-respect. They learn to work together for the good of society and to contribute their special talents to that end.   They work individually at times, but more often in groups.   Thus, they are able to experience achievement on a group level and consistently learn about their own intrinsic worth and potential.

Spiritual Development:

While Rising Star Outreach is not affiliated with any specific religion, each child is taught that they were created by a loving God who loves them and cares about them.   They are taught to pray and develop their characters in accordance with principles of kindness, honesty, and service.   The children are taught also to respect all religions.

What is your role as your child's sponsor?

As one of our Rising Star Outreach sponsors, you agree to support this child as he or she grows up. In so doing, you contribute financially to their care, education and development. You also agree to support them emotionally and to continually encourage them through quarterly communication. In turn, the child you sponsor will keep you updated on their lives through quarterly communication as well.

While your child is very young, it will be difficult for them to understand the concept of a sponsor. However, as they grow up they will be taught about the family or families who are making it possible for them to be at Rising Star. By the time they reach the age of 18, when your sponsorship finishes, they will know you well and understand the great opportunity you have provided for them to rise above the colonies.

You and your family will slowly become known to your child, and they to you, as the child grows up. As they do, it will be with an awareness of the kindness of strangers. From your example they will learn a sense of responsibility for taking care of others that will hopefully be perpetuated as they go out into the world and attempt to make a difference in the lives of others who need it.

Sponsoring a child in India will have an impact on you and on your own family as well. We encourage you to place a photo of the child you sponsor in a prominent place in your home, and make sure that your own children know and understand the decision your family has made to help this Indian child. You will find that the blessings that come from your kindness will have far-reaching effects in the lives of those you love.

How do I communicate with my child?

Email is the best way to communicate with your sponsored child.

Emails can be sent to kids@risingstaroutreach.org. Your email will be translated into Tamil and given to the child. The children would all love to respond immediately, but since they are still learning computer skills and need help in formulating responses, we generally tell sponsors to expect a response quarterly. We require the children to respond in English. They love to share their enthusiasm for school, their latest acquired skill, their dreams, and their favorites (food, color, activity, friends, etc.) with their sponsors. A sponsor's interest in their lives gives them a sense of importance. As they get older, responses will be more immediate.

Note: While we encourage any sponsor who is interested in visiting India to do so, please do not encourage your sponsored child to come to America. Rising Star encourages the children to be proud of their Indian heritage and to develop a sense of responsibility towards their homeland.

What about birthdays and Christmas?

Each child's birthday is celebrated at Rising Star Outreach. If the parent is unsure of the birthday, we help them to come to a good close "guess". Birthday's provide an opportunity to spotlight a child. If the sponsor sends a monetary birthday donation, a gift is purchased for all the children to share. It is presented at the birthday celebration, in honor of the child. All the children's lives have been enriched by the giving of birthday donations. In the past this practice has provided big wheels, playground equipment, and other treats that would not normally be possible with the Childrens' Home budget. At Christmastime all donated Christmas money is collected and then, once again, items are bought for all the children. In the past these funds have provided sandals, educational materials, chairs, a TV for the home, and a hot water heater for the showers.

To send either a birthday or a Christmas donation in the name of the child you sponsor, you may contribute online (mark "birthday" to direct your donation) or send a check to:

Rising Star Outreach, 6241 Indian River Drive, Norcross, GA 30092-1350 

Please include a note with the name of the child being honored and specify whether it is for a birthday gift or Christmas gift.

How much does it cost?

We invite you to participate with other caring families and help give a child the opportunity to come to the Rising Star Outreach Home and attend our School.   Unlike most charities that provide schooling alone for needy children, Rising Star Outreach provides complete care of the child - in addition to their schooling needs. This is necessary because of the unusual circumstances of children in leprosy colonies. The monthly costs for each child is much higher than most other charities.   We wish this opportunity to be available to all interested people; therefore, we combine sponsors to equal the needed monthly amount for each child.

The cost to sponsor a child at Rising Star Outreach is $30 per month.  This can be paid on a monthly, semi-annual, and annual basis.