OPEN is partnering with IGNITE to provide Engineering and Teacher Training polytechnic education to deserving poor students. IGNITE selects these students from lists of poor students with excellent board exam marks; these lists are provided by the school managements. IGNITE visits these students' homes to verify that the students are indeed needy, and monitors their progress through the diploma. IGNITE's aim - that a student's education directly provide a livelihood - meshes perfectly with that of OPEN.

In March 2007, OPEN provided $9,000 for scholarships for the latest batch of these students.

OPEN is also funding the B.E degree in Engineering for a student called Vinodhini. Her father is sick and unable to work, and her mother works in a phone booth. Vinodhini came 2nd in her class and was accepted at Engineering college, but could not afford the fees. OPEN is providing the money as an interest-free loan.

More information on these students can be found on our Educate a Child page.