Dear friend of Prakash,

Rajat and Nidra are so cold, their teeth are chattering.

To get a little warmer, Rajat rubs his uncovered arms — arms that are protected only by his short-sleeved cotton shirt. Nidra wraps her thin scarf around her shoulders.

“Cold?” you may be wondering. “At Prakash Institutes — in central India?” It’s easy to assume that India’s tropical climate means only blue skies…swaying orange trees … colorful flowers …

But you may not realize that even in central India, there’s a cold season that can last up to five months, with pouring rains, heavy winds and damp air. And while Rajat is enormously proud to own his own shirt and Nidra carefully hand launders her choli blouse — let’s face it, simple cotton shirts don’t begin to keep students warm even in Nagpur, when temperatures dip down into the 50s and the bitter wind is blowing.

You can help change that for Rajat, Nidra and their fellow students with your special year-end gift to Prakash Institutes — and help buy sweaters for boys and girls enrolled in the school.

I realize that to many of us, a sweater is not an unusual gift. I admit it — I’m among the thousands of Americans that doesn’t hesitate to exchange a gift sweater for one I like better.

But to our students at Prakash Institutes, the gift of a sweater is precious. A sweater means physical protection from chilly, damp temperatures … and more.

You see, each Prakash student gets to keep the sweater he is given. That may seem obvious to you and me. But to our students in India, the gift of ownership is a gift of dignity. Your gift reminds each one of those young boys and girls that someone cares deeply about them as a special, individual person.

You can make that kind of a powerful difference in a young person’s life with your gift this holiday season.

During this time of year, Tibetan sweater merchants travel down from the Himalayas into central India with their wools and knits. They set up roadside stands to sell their wares, bargaining with locals and offering sweaters at a fraction of the price of what you’d pay in the U.S.

Tibetan sweaters routinely sell in American stores and on the Internet for $90-$125 or more. But Prakash Institutes staff members are able to purchase sweaters on our behalf at rock-bottom prices from these sellers. That’s how we’re able to provide a high-quality, handmade sweater for a student for just $15.

Because of limited funds, particularly at the close of the calendar year, we can’t give this special Christmas gift to each of our students without you. Will you consider a special year-end gift to Prakash Institutes that can be used to help purchase sweaters for our students?

For just $15, you can provide a sweater for a student like Rajat or Nidra. You’ll help make sure they are warm this winter — both on the outside, where Rajat’s arms were once raw and chapped, and on the inside, when Nidra realizes that another human being cares about her dignity and worth.

Or perhaps you can give $30 for sweaters for two students … $75 for sweaters for five students … $150 for sweaters for ten students … or even $300 for sweaters for twenty students!

People once asked Jesus, “When did we see you needing clothes and clothe you?” To which He answered, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:37, 40).

I can think of no better gift to our Lord at the celebration of His birth than to clothe one of His precious children in a warm sweater. Will you help? Please take a moment right now to fill out the enclosed response slip, drop it in the envelope with your most generous gift, and mail it today.

May God bless you and yours during this season of love and hope.

For His Kingdom,

Loren D. Eckhardt, Executive Director
Prakash for India

P.S. Most students are only with us for one year, and this may be their only opportunity to receive a sweater for Christmas. I hope you’ll help us help them with your generous tax-deductible gift. On their behalf, thank you.

As you read this newsletter, the newest students at Ruth Girls Institute of India are unpacking their meager possessions in their new dorm rooms and having their first ever-healthy meals. Daya is giggling with her new friends. Her eyes are glistening – not from homesickness, but with hope. Just a few weeks ago, she’d nearly been forced to travel with a stranger to the big city to “work” for him. But Daya’s pastor interceded. He told Daya’s father about Prakash Institutes.Instead of nightmarish, violent nights in the brothels, Daya is already working hard in her dressmaking lessons. She had the first physical exam of her life and was found to be extremely anemic. With good food, clean water, vitamins, and an actual bed for sleeping, she can only think of her new life as a miracle. She has escaped the darkness of slavery and now faces the light of promise.Without this hope this is what is in store for a large majority of the young people of India. With the largest concentration of poverty in the world, and a caste and cultural system that limits opportunity, young Indians do whatever it takes to stay alive. For many this is hard labor, debt bondage, prostitution, human trafficking and involuntary servitude.Prakash mean “Light” in Hindi and Prakash Institutes are faith based, residential vocational schools located on 26 acres in the very heart of India. Prakash Institutes bring light where darkness once prevailed.

Speak up for the people who have no voice, for the rights of all the down-and-outters. Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute! Proverbs 31:8-9

Young Indians are hardworking and independent if given a chance. There are no “Help Wanted” signs in India. Trades and skills are passed down ONLY to family members. So if your family cannot support another person in their trade, or you are an orphan, or a girl there is NO HOPE. Their lives literally depend on learning a trade and acquiring skills to break the ancient traditions. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.Prakash Institutes of India are in the business of saving lives and giving hope. PREVENTION—IS THE KEY. Protecting the vulnerable by providing Life Skills, Job Skills and most importantly, Spiritual Skills.These skills can bring hope for a new way of living. The impact of attending Prakash Institutes can and has changed an entire village.Spiritual training that will bring the ultimate hope of eternity with Jesus.Prakash Institutes have been 501C non-profits for 34 years and have over 2000 alumni, many of whom have gone on to become huge successes in their field. Many Indian churches have Prakash alumni as pastors. Many of the staff at Prakash Institutes are alumni. Until 3 years ago, the institute only educated young men, then my husband and I had such a burden for the young women of India, who are under fed, under educated and often sold as slaves, that we began a campaign to build another institute…co-education is not a possiblility. So with the help of God’s people here in the US we were able to build a 55,000 sq. ft. facility for girls on the same 26 acres. Ruth Girls Institute open late in 2006. Even though the women of India are mistreated, they do control the religion of the family. What better way to change India for Jesus than to equip young woman with skills that will help the family income and disciple the family to have Jesus as their personal Savior?It will only take $10,000 a month more to assure that the institutes stay in operation.We need for the men and women of God to step up to the plate and sacrificially give to save these young people of India.Prakash Institutes: a rare opportunity! You can invest so little, $1.85 a day, and virtually guarantee you will transform a life forever. Anybody can sponsor a student or give to the general fund.DON’T JUST SAVE A LIFE…HELP BUILD ONE.