A project custodian(s) owns a project and is the primary contact person for both the project and Asha. The part played by a project custodian is the most rewarding and most critical for the functioning of Asha. The is also the most wonderful learning experience that asha has to offer to a volunteer.

The present custodians and volunteers of Asha Austin have come up with the following list of responsibilities of a project custodian based on their experience:

Must dos:

For the project:

• Keep in constant contact with the project (contact the project atleast once a month by phone/email/snail mail/site visit/etc) the purpose of this is to
  • understand the issues being faced by the project
  • understand the general social context and the social problems that the project is trying to address.
  The interaction is expected to be much further than their need for funds and how they are using the funds.
• The custodian should seriously attempt to visit the project at some point of time. If not the first year then over the next three years. When you visit the project attempt to stay at the village/project for a day or two rather than visit for just a few hrs.
• Ensure that funds are sent out to the projects in a timely manner.
• Requirements of project change with time, so keep the proposal up to date.
• If you are about to move, ensure that a volunteer at the chapter takes up custodianship of the project. Introduce the custodian to the coordinators of project so that the project does not suffer due to lack of communication. Even though this is something you do when you move always be on the lookout to introduce and involve more people.

For the Chapter:

• Attend the meetings at least once a month and provide updates to the chapter about the project. If you are unable to attend meetings frequently enough provide updates by email.
• Maintain the project web page and keep it up to date with information obtained about the project and monthly call or correspondence.
• Prepare/Maintain the project posters for the project and be able to present it at fundraising events. (Or have volunteers aware of the project so they can present the project to the chapter).
• Make sure that your project is site visited by an asha volunteer at least once a year. If no one from the chapter is available for a visit work with the projects working group and the chapters projects coordinator to have one done.
• Ask the project to give six-monthly reports and get feedback from them on how asha can work with them better.

Can do:

• Join asha-projects and other asha focusgroups that are relevant to your project. Seek help from your chapter projects coordinator if you need advice regarding other groups.
• Be on the lookout for teacher traning workshops and asha conferences which provide project coordinators an opportunity to learn from each other.
• Be on the lookout for local efforts in the chapter's region that work on similar issues as the project partner. If possible organize field trips to get hands on experience.
• Invite speakers from fields that deal with the same issues as the project partner.
• Be on the lookout for non-monetary needs of the project partner, for e.g. translating teaching material to the medium of teaching.
• Merchandise - check if there are products we can sell here. This helps projects get a step closer to self sufficiency.

Wish list:

• Keep refining this page based on your experience and interactions with your projects.