STEPS is a non-profit organization that uses 100% of the funds towards the student's education. We believe that education is the key to unlocking the potential of children and for breaking the vicious cycle of poverty.
The STEPS organization will assist impoverished children who cannot afford the costs of high school or college education even though they are exceptionally good in academics. STEPS will take full responsibility in covering the admission fee, tuition fee, books, clothing and anything else that is needed to ensure the students continue with their education. We select the students that we are going to sponsor based on their financial status (poorest of the poor) and their academic track record using a pre-defined process. Our goal is to ensure the students have support needed irrespective of their gender, caste, livelihood and displacement to build the right level of self-confidence in them so that they can reach to the heights that they deserve in life.
The STEPS board members go to numerous schools in the region (throughout the district) to increase awareness of the program. Intent is to reach out to students and school staff directly and inform them that we could give them the needed support. Knowing that there education is provided is really helping lots of kids to further focus on their studies instead of worrying about the financial status. We had 22 awareness programs in the last 12 months.
The STEPS organization conducts several on campus medical visits to the local region in order to help them with much needed check-ups. Doctor examination, tests and medicine are all provided for free to all students. During the last 12 months, we helped around 1000 students with medical check-ups in 6 different locations.
We believe our program promotes a heightened sensitivity among those beneficiaries who we hope will someday become donors themselves. The STEPS board takes extra measures to showcase the importance of giving to their students. We take all the students who are enrolled in the program to other non-profit organizations who are helping people without any expectations. This program is designed to show the importance of giving and to increase the awareness on different organizations who are also helping the needy. We took our students to 2 different organizations last year.