Our association
Fighting poverty through the development of education in the villages around Kanji.
We are pursuing two objectives:
- Transforming the future of poor children by providing them with a quality education
- To provide material and moral support to the Saint Antony institution
Recognized as a non-profit organization since 2003, Enfants de Kanji operates exclusively thanks to the commitment of its volunteers, sponsorships and donations from its supporters.
Our operating costs are deliberately kept to a bare minimum and represent approximately 1% of our resources. This rigorous management allows us to dedicate the majority of funds raised to supporting Saint Antony School and assisting the most disadvantaged children.
Thanks to this aid, the school can finance its essential expenses and guarantee access to education for the most modest families.
What is Enfants de Kanji?
Our identity
The association was born following a chance encounter in the village of Kanji.
It led to the creation of a general interest association on February 13, 2003 in Gex in the department of Ain.
The association now has around one hundred volunteer members.
Our objectives
Fighting poverty through the development of education in the villages around Kanji.
- Transforming the future of poor children by providing them with a quality education
- To provide material and moral support to the Saint Antony institution
Our way of working
Efficiency
- We operate without intermediaries.
- We are in regular contact with the institution.
- We systematically monitor the progress of projects.
- We are all volunteers.
- Our operating expenses vary between 1 and 2% of our revenue.
Transparency
- Our newsletters regularly report on the latest news from the institution.
Where do our resources come from?
50%
From sponsorships of children attending school
25%
from individual donations
15%
From enterprise sponsorship
10%
From promotional events
What do we do?
We enable children from disadvantaged families to access an institution of excellence, thus offering them favorable learning conditions and a structured educational framework.
At the same time, we contribute to the development and operation of this establishment, the Saint Antony school.
Nos valeurs
Generosity
Supporting the poorest children and families in the village of Kanji and its surroundings.
Tolerance
An apolitical and non-denominational association, open to all and opposed to all forms of discrimination.
Trust
To act with transparency and fully respect our commitments, thanks to entirely voluntary involvement.
Humility
Listen, understand, and act without imposing, respecting everyone's realities and opinions. We respect Indian culture, which can challenge Western certainties.
Your help is always welcome
Every bit of support counts.
By becoming a sponsor, you directly contribute to providing a child from a disadvantaged family with access to quality education and a better future.
Saint Antony School
Founded in 1994 with a single class, Saint Antony school has experienced remarkable growth and now welcomes more than 2,000 students.
It educates children from the surrounding villages, from kindergarten to the final year of secondary school, without distinction of gender, caste or religion, and is recognized for the quality of its teaching as well as for its educational commitment.
Its exceptional results in national exams place it among the very top schools in the region.
Any questions?
Donations support the development of the institution and contribute to the quality of teaching and the well-being of students.
These are projects that are undertaken at the request of the institution and are decided by our board of directors.
They can be partially or fully funded. They are subject to quotes or cost estimates. We monitor the progress of the work and control its execution through site visits or video communication.
To discover how each donation translates concretely on the ground, with figures and testimonials, consult our page concerning the actions carried out by the Enfants de Kanji association or consult our page to make a donation directly.
We have no intention of influencing Indian society.
Women and untouchables suffer discrimination.
Girls and boys are equally divided at school. We do not have statistics concerning the untouchables.
The sponsorships primarily target these two groups. Quality education will contribute to a better future, and will have a positive impact on their families and parents.
To discover how each sponsorship translates concretely on the ground, with figures and testimonials, consult our page concerning the actions carried out by the Enfants de Kanji association or consult our page to become a sponsor directly.
The association's board is entirely composed of volunteers who cover their own expenses, including their travel to India. This allows the association to minimize its operating costs, which represent between 1 and 2% of its revenue.
We are looking for volunteers who support our actions and values in order to increase our visibility and participate in our events.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities and getting involved with the association, consult our volunteer page.
The village of Kanji is a rural community located in an agricultural region where rice and peanuts are the main crops. The population lives very modestly: most adults are day laborers or small farmers, often belong to historically marginalized communities (such as Dalits), and most have only attended primary school, if at all. The language spoken is Tamil, and the village has only the bare necessities for daily life. Access to healthcare requires traveling to a town, about an hour away.
In this context, Saint Antony School plays a vital role: education is one of the most powerful tools for a lasting escape from poverty. It gives everyone, girls and boys alike, the opportunity to study, succeed, and build a better future. By training young people who can become teachers, civil servants, nurses, or entrepreneurs, the school also contributes directly to the village's development: more local skills, greater community recognition, and more financial and human support in the future.
To discover in more detail the daily life of families in the village of Kanji and the impact of school on their lives, consult our blog which brings together all our news, testimonials and stories.
Pierre Alépée stayed at Saint Antony school during his time in Kanji in 2003.
The institution was the only establishment that had two rooms providing reasonable comfort for a Westerner.
As payment, Maria Rayappan gave him photos of about ten children who could not access school due to lack of financial means.
Pierre, deeply impressed by his experience, the charisma of the founder, the values of the school, the discipline of the students, and the motivation of the teachers, filed the association's statutes with the sub-prefecture of Gex and quickly found godchildren among his circle of friends. Others would follow.
Enfants de Kanji has developed over the years in partnership with The Kanji Project, which enabled the purchase of the land and the construction of the first buildings.
Word of mouth has enabled the development of the association, which sponsors around sixty children and supports the development of the institution thanks to generous donors.
To discover the school in more detail and what it represents, consult our complete page on Saint Antony School.
Thanks to their education at Saint Antony School, many children from the village of Kanji were able to continue their studies or access more stable and skilled jobs. Some became teachers, nurses, administrative staff, or developed businesses that allowed them to provide a better standard of living for their families. Beyond academic success, the former students practice the values taught at the school, such as a strong work ethic, solidarity, generosity, and tolerance.
The school has primarily opened up new opportunities for the young people of the village. Seeing former students continue their studies or build a professional future encourages more families today to believe in the importance of education, especially for girls.
To discover in more detail the journeys of former students and the role of education in the future of the village of Kanji, consult our testimonials and stories on the page concerning the actions carried out by the association Enfants de Kanji.