| 1997 |
Mark Bloomfield, a British humanitarian serving the poor in India, helps Sr. Mary Crescence fund a teacher to open her “free evening school”, refilling an empty convent classroom with illiterate kids after closing hours in the small town of Motihari, Bihar. |
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Did you know?
It only costs $15/year to educate one child in India.
Every year we provide thousands of schools supplies.
Last year we gave out 2,500 slates & textbooks.
We operate 80 schools.
We teach more than the basics by teaching sewing and embroidery skills as well. |
| 2000 |
Sr. Crescence is visited by Mark and Australian friend Dr. Robert Coenraads. Robert funds a second school in Muzzafarpar and establishes a scholarship fund for exceptional students. |
| 2005 |
Mark visits Sue Tennant in Canada to explore the expansion of the free evening school model in India and among hill tribes and refugees in northern Thailand.
Sue incorporates The FreeSchools World Literacy Charity as a fundraising vehicle to empower women and children with free education in developing countries.
30 new FreeSchools are opened in India under management by Sr. Crescence. 16 FreeSchools are founded by Mark in Fang area, close to the Thai/Burma border. |
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| 2006 |
FreeSchools World Literacy is registered as a Canadian charity.
Sue and Saskia Raevouri (Holland/USA) visit the FreeSchools in Thailand and India. While in Delhi, they tour the ISPCK sponsored schools and women’s empowerment centres south of Delhi. |
| 2007 |
Saskia and Dr. John Lange (USA) join Sue to visit the Bihar FreeSchools.
FreeSchools partners with ISPCK Publishing in Delhi to help fund their existing schools and opens 2 new schools. |
| 2008 |
In April, Sue visits the Bihar and ISPCK schools. She also visits the Thai schools, managed by Australian volunteers Ben Bowler and Jildou Brouwer.
FreeSchools World Literacy is incorporated in Australia.
In August, FreeSchools partners with the Mirror Art Foundation, a Thai NGO that supports the education and rights of hill tribes, to take over management from Ben and Jildou at the end of the year. |
| 2009 |
Geri Johnson (Singapore) joins Sue to visit the Bihar schools.
Another ISPCK FreeSchool is opened in Uttar Pradesh.
Judy and Joanna Townsend (Australia) join Sue in Thailand.
The Mirror Foundation successfully negotiates the funding of 5 older FreeSchools by government, freeing up FreeSchools to open badly needed schools in 5 remote locations.
FreeSchools World Literacy-USA is incorporated in California as a 501(c)(3).
80 schools are in operation - employing 92 teachers and supervisors and educating over 3,000 students. |
