“The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.”
- C. S. “Jack” Lewis.
We agree. With our hallmark fund raising program – Work An Hour or WAH, as it is popularly known – we present you an opportunity to help an under privileged child in India reach his or her own bright future, whoever you are, whatever you do in your 60 minutes. Here, at Asha for Education, we ask you to participate in our unique WAH 2010 program, by symbolically working an hour towards the cause of children's education and donating an hour's worth or more of your salary.
In its 13th year, the WAH program has chosen 13 projects from all over India, after a thorough selection process with a focus on Overcoming Disabilities, Preventing Child Labor, and Bridging the Gap. For more information on these projects, please, click here.
Per Charity Navigator, America's premier independent charity evaluator, Asha For Education spends 98.4% of its funds raised on the programs. One of many criteria that has earned Asha for Education four out of four stars from Charity Navigator is its zero overhead policy – the less than 2% administrative expenses are covered with bank interest. So, every last cent of your donation goes directly to the projects sponsored. Please see Charity Navigator.
As 2214 dreamy eyed children, supported by these 13 projects, are coloring their tirangas (flags) to celebrate India’s 64th Independence Day on August 15th, 2010, will you be their impetus to succeed? Please donate to bring hope through education.
It is with shock and sadness that Asha notes the death of N. Mutyalappa, Asha fellow. He passed away on the night of 4th April/early hours of 5th. He was 33 years old. He had a road accident and suffered severe head injuries while driving his motorcycle on the Bangalore/Hyderabad National Highway near his residence in Chennekothapalle village of Anantapur district.
Mutyalappa was nominated as a Asha fellow in mid-2007 to support his work as a Sarpanch of Mushtikovela panchayat in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. The details of his work can be seen on the Asha page tracking the fellowship here. His extensive previous work with the NGO Timbaktu Collective laid a solid grounding for him to undertake village development work as Sarpanch. He made Mushtikovela panchayat an outstanding example of NREGA implementation, with more than 1 crore rupees in cumulative disbursements to labourers. His most recent project which was just reaching completion at the time of his demise was the optimal utilization of Mushtikovela's tank through a process of consensus and dialoguing, so that a crop of paddy could be taken even in a drought year, creating significant income for the village.
Mutyalappa was a highly dynamic individual who understood the system and decided to work within it, by entering the political arena at the village level. Despite tremendous pressure and continuing difficulties he worked for proper implemention of government schemes for the benefit of the village. In interactions with him, his tremendous capacity to mobilize people, put pressure on the goverment to make the will of the people prevail came through clearly. He had an amazing talent in negotiating the delicate terrain of caste, political, personal and other divides in a village to get people together to achieve something of value. It is tragic that a person like him met an untimely demise while he had much more to contribute. The circumstances of his death were also unfortunate as he was shuttled between hospitals and places in a desperate attempt to find appropriate emergency treatment.
He is survived by his wife, a young son and an elder brother. Asha volunteers would like to convey their profound condolences to his relatives in this time of grief.
Helping Children From India's Slums
The Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire has captured hearts around the world. Of the millions who have seen it, many wonder what they can do to help children from India's slums.
Asha for Education volunteers have funded and organized dozens of projects in slums across India, including the slums shown in Slumdog Millionaire. Asha has been working to help these children for more than 10 years, with 93 education projects focusing on children from the slums.
One of the best things you can do to help is to make a donation to Asha for Education -- please use the Google Checkout form on the right side of this page. Asha has been given the highest possible rating by Charity Navigator and has been a top-rated nonprofit on many Charity Navigator lists, including "10 Slam Dunk Charities."
In the sunny metropolis of Chennai, a 115-year-old school called Olcott Memorial is dedicated to educating the poorest children. The Chapter Coordinator of Asha Chennai, Lakshmi Suryanarayanan, is also Headmistress at Olcott Memorial. Lakshmi oversees the many education projects focused on helping children from slums in Chennai, funded and informed by Asha volunteers around the world.
Lakshmi greets some of her eager students.
Lakshmi anchors the dedicated staff at Olcott Memorial, here including kitchen staff who provide for students' nutritional needs.
Project Bridge is Olcott Memorial's attempt to bridge the digital divide. There is a growing divide between children from poor families, whose access to computers is almost nonexistent, and the growing computer use by children from wealthy families. Future plans for Asha funding at Olcott Memorial include purchasing increased Internet connectivity for their computer lab, teacher training, and improving science labs.
Any amount you donate can mean the world to a child, and because Asha is run by volunteers, 100% of your contribution will reach the children. If a general donation is not specific or personal enough, consider giving with Asha's Support A Child program.
Something else you can do to help: spread the word. Using one of the linked images below or in any way you prefer, share a link to Asha for Education on your website, blog, profile, or in email. If you know someone who may want to support basic education in India, send them here!
Article and photos by Brian Glanz, who has volunteered with Asha at Cornell University, in India, and in Seattle. He can be reached at www.brianglanz.net
Dr Chandra of Sankurathri Foundation is a CNN Hero
Dr. Chandrasekhar Sankurathri of the Sankurathri Foundation was named a CNN Hero.
See the video on CNN and read a story featured by The Canadian Broadcasting Company in its online paper.
Asha for Education is proud to extend support to the school run by the Sankurathri Foundation. Read more about Asha's support.
Sankurathri Foundation School, photo by Sreenivas.
For your convenience, we have started accepting donations to our general funds through your Google Account.
The latest issue of SPAN, the magazine of the American embassy in New Delhi, has a feature on Asha for Education written by Smita Jain, a freelance writer based in Delhi. The article highlights a number of Asha strengths including our decentralized structure, volunteer spirit and commitment to minimal overheads which have resulted in 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Please click here for the article or here to download a copy.
Several Asha Chapters (Silicon Valley, NYC/NJ, Central NJ, Boston, DC, Detroit, Austin) have launched marathon programs, that include the training needed for you to run a marathon! Marathon runner sponsorships will be used to fund projects supported by these chapters. Visit www.team-asha.org, an umbrella site of Asha's marathon programs for more information.
Asha needs donors like you to
Support A Child (SAC) Soda $0.75, Coffee $1.10, Bagel $0.60,
Taco Bell $3.15 --- but for just $0.40 a day you can Support an underprivileged
child's education. Please give your support to our SAC Projects.
