Deceased students, staff, supporters and benefactors and their families and friends were remembered.

The School

Rangammal School
for hearing impaired children

Deafness is a common problem in Indian villages: Sylvia was asked to help by the Government. In 1966 she responded by setting up a boarding school where 200 children with profound hearing impairments are fed, clothed and educated to a high standard, entirely free of charge.
The children come to the school from the age of four and stay until they are at least 16. Exam results are excellent and the school is top of the district league tables. An increasing number of children are now going on to university and are graduating with distinction.
Class sizes have to be kept small, with no more than 8 children per teacher. There are 24 classrooms and 35 teachers. All of the children are given hearing aids and some classrooms have audio systems.

The children produce excellent written and artistic work. Sporting skills are strong, especially in cricket and dance. Despite their disabilities, the children are often described by visitors as the happiest children in the world.
A dairy farm is attached to the school, providing good quality milk to all the projects.
Two early intervention classes help very young children who attend each day with their mothers.
The school offers a sound education and excellent pastoral care leading to good exam results and much improved employment prospects for the children. In recent years all these basics have been enhanced by teaching the children English, providing them with digital hearing aids and intensive IT studies.  

Click on any of these photos to enlarge.

The dining room