Mankulam is a serene hamlet situated in the lap of Sahya Mountain ranges in the district of Idukki, Kerala, India. 99% of the population earns its living from farm and cattle rearing. Unknown diseases ravaging the crops, the global economic crisis and exploding commodity prices make it more and more difficult for the people to safeguard their livelihood. Education by means of value formation, non-
formal education, literacy, skill developments and sensitization is the only way out of these circumstances. But not every child has the opportunity to visit a school. Especially in the rural regions schools might be too far away and private schools are too expensive. Due to the lack of government aid the Catholic Church started caring for the education of the poor children in Mankulam. In 1972 Father Jose Kandathil started imparting primary education to children under thatched sheds. It was under the vicarage of Father Joseph Punnolil that the school got governmental approval. By 1983 the church was able to establish a secondary school, subsequently gaining governmental approval as well.
