Ms Gabbi Basra visited the Cathedral Relief Service, Kolkata with a group of High School Students from Derbyshire in 2019. Gabbi during her brief stay was most excited and encourage by the education centres in the various slums in Kolkata and took very keen interest in working with the Education teachers and the children. She wore a compassionate and joyful appearance always at the slum schools. It was very apparent that she was sensitive to the needs of the vulnerable children and the plight of their circumstances. We all at CRS miss her following her premature death. CRS would like to remember her with the instituting of the Gabbi Education Memorial Project.
According to government studies, out of 300 million children of school-going age, only about 180 million of them are in schools. 48% of India’s children are not enrolled in higher secondary school because of financial problems.
The Gabbi Education support is a holistic scholarship program aimed at providing financial assistance to bright students who lack the resources to complete their education. It also provides mentorship to prospective bright yet needy municipal school students. It serves as an incentive for parents to continue the education of their meritorious children and as a motivation for students themselves to keep studying.
Hospitality Training
The Gabbi Basra Bursary funded two students to undertake vocational training at the New Kenilworth Hotel. In January 2025, Anita Matthews and Alison Brown, trustees of Friends of CRS, met with the students to hear about their experiences, progress, and aspirations for the future.
To donate to the Gabbi Basra Memorial Fund visit our Donate page and email secretary@friendsofcrs.co.uk to let us know you want to donation to go to this fund.