Year five-scholarship exam is the selecting test for national schools in Sri Lanka. Every year over 3,000 students get the admission to national schools on the results of this exam. These are the most intelligent batch of children selected at the age of year ten. The unfortunate thing is that over 20% of these children are unable to get admission to the national schools due to their poverty. There are only a limited number of national schools in the country, which are also located in the cities. A child who has been selected to a national school, from a rural school will have either to stay in the hostel of the school or in a boarding house near by. This is going to cost at least $ 15 per month. Some children will have to travel 10 to 15 miles from their homes and even this is going to cost more than $ 15 per month. Not only that but also they have to spend for their books and clothing and for other school activities. The government gives a bursary of $ 6 per month for the children who come from low-income families. Also the children get free textbooks. With the other books, clothing and extra activity costs a child needs at least $ 30 a month. The normal income of a low - income family in a rural village is about $ 15 to 20 per month and these families consist of three to four children. They can manage their food because they do cultivation in their home gardens and they have their own cow for milk. The children who get admission to national schools from these low- income families either won’t get admitted to these schools or they will drop after few months because their parents cannot afford the costs. Karuna Trust came to understand this, a few years ago and started a separate fund in 2004 to give a helping hand to these needy children. In 2004 we gave 55 scholarships and in 2005 115 scholarships to these needy students. We give them financial assistance up to their advanced level examination. Not only that but also according to their requirements, we give them books and clothing too. Because of our limited funds, presently we are giving only $.5 per month for a child. From year 2006 we are planning to give $ 10 per month to a child. For every $ 10 that you donate, Karuna Trust adds one dollar from its account to give books and clothing to these children. We give the exact amount that you donate to the child and also regularly we look in to the other needs of the child. In the recent exam of which the results were out in last October, 3,000 children have been qualified to get admission to national schools. By now we have received 213 applications from deserving students, requesting financial assistance for their future education. With our limited funds we will be able to support only 25 children in 2006. For just $ 10 a month, you can give one child a chance to overcome poverty by providing education. With a little bit of pocket change and a kind heart, you can change a child’s life.