Armadillo is a longstanding sponsor of the Kantilal Vidya Mandir (KVM) School. The co-ed institution was established in 1987 and educates many of our artisan’s children in the Carpet Belt region. The school is attended by 204 students from Kindergarten to Year 5 and is overseen by a head principal, 10 teachers and 4 ground staff.
Since 2014 Armadillo has fully funded all of KVM’s overheads, including staff salaries, textbooks, teaching aids, school uniforms, furniture, equipment, utilities, maintenance and improvements. In early 2018, the Foundation funded and installed solar panels and, as a result, the school now runs completely on sustainable energy.
The Armadillo Foundation also sponsors a local medical clinic, subsidising the salary for a full-time nurse. The clinic provides students, their families and local village residents with free medical care. The clinic also holds free biannual eye checks for KVM students, and bestows free glasses to those with any sight problems.
From 2018, the Foundation has pledged scholarships for the top three highest performing girls to help them complete their secondary schooling. An additional scholarship will be awarded to a student from a family in need or a high-achieving boy. The nine-year scholarship provides full funding for each child to attend a local English-medium school, and will cover school fees, bicycles for transportation, textbooks, uniforms and any other associated costs for the duration of their enrolment. By 2026, the Foundation will have between 27 and 36 children on these scholarships, giving each one the opportunity for a brighter future.