Aims
To meet the educational needs of underprivileged children in India by providing education through the provision of suitable land and school buildings, teachers and equipment, transport and other such infrastructure required for the education of children aged 3 to 15 years.
What we do
To provide pre-schooling to underprivileged children by funding the provision of suitable education in existing school infrastructure (RTL sponsored schools) for age groups 3-15.
To develop such infrastructure as is needed to support these children’s education and to monitor their progress.
To provide any funding and counselling that may be required to ensure their continued educational success.
To develop funding methodologies and donor recruitment strategies which can grow rapidly and support the schooling provision.
History
Ann Mills, the Founder of Room to Learn, first travelled to India having volunteered to work in the Baptist Hospital in Bangalore and later moved to Assam helping at the Christian Guwahati Hospital.
During her visits to India, many families had become her friends, and her concern and love for these people grew. Finally, after retiring from the NHS, her burning desire was to help those Indians and Nepalese who were relegated to the bottom of their society by birth – known as the ‘untouchables’.
How could they escape from the chains that bound them? Ann decided that if she could provide a Nursery School and teachers, the little Dalit children could have a ‘head-start’ on the learning ladder. This would give them a fairer chance of success. Room to Learn was started on August 9th 2015.
The Trustees
My first career was in the Royal Air Force, working in Air Traffic Control. I left to raise a family and build our own home.
I joined Courtaulds Textiles as a management trainee. My speciality became operational efficiency. In various career moves, I took these growing skills into diverse sectors such as food and tobacco through eventually to automotive engineering. I ended up as a main board director for a FTSE 350 company becoming the Chairman and CEO of their North American operations.
I gained a 1st Class Hons Manufacturing Engineering Degree from Brunel University together with a formal training in Systems Analysis. Middlesex University conferred an Honorary Doctorate in 2007.
I met Ann Mills when we joined the WRAF many years ago.
I have had experience of living abroad since childhood. My mother was a teacher in Kenya and Uganda so I saw a lot of appalling conditions and the start of the civil war by Amin. My Grandparents lived and worked in India during the 1920s so my Mother grew up for a while in India. I feel a connection and excitement with India.
I joined the RAF as an Administrator in 1954.
I was granted a joint honours degree in Physics and Education by Nottingham University.
Our Supporters
Without the help of our supporters, some listed below and many other private generous contributors, we could not accomplish what we do.
The Sai Ram Trust “Love all – Serve all”.
The Old Berkhamstedians
The Lions Club Carterton
The Witney “Inner Wheel” ladies Rotary grant-giving charity
All who support our annual garden party. (Which was of course cancelled in 2020)
A small but growing number of private individuals who make regular payments. Some choose to support specific projects or pupils. For others, the dependability of these payments is a vital foundation. See Gifting.