Sudar, “Light” in Tamil, Madurai, TN

Sudar is WEP’s first center. Founded in 2002, seventy students currently attend the WEP-Sudar center, and of these, forty receive scholarships to local colleges. Once the college day has finished, students come to the center to enjoy nutritious snacks with friends and study in the library and garden.

Each semester, students choose between study skills, English, and computer courses. On weekends and during vacations, they may attend a teacher-training program, the lecture series on health, finance, civics and the environment, and local field trips to introduce them to career opportunities.

Ushassu, “Morning Light” in Telugu, Hyderabad, AP

In 2008, WEP partnered with the MV Foundation in Hyderabad to form Ushassu. In January, the first ten students, all from landless farming families, were selected to attend college. In June 2009, fifteen more students were accepted into the program. All are attending a college in a village outside of Hyderabad.