What is Asha?
Asha is a secular non-profit organization with the primary goal of providing basic education to children in India. Asha was started in the summer of 1991, when a few students at Berkeley got together to do their part in bringing hope and opportunity to poor and underprivileged children.

Who does Asha Frankfurt consists of?
We are a group of professionals from Frankfurt and surrounding areas. Anybody can join Asha - there are no specific membership criteria and no membership fees.

Is Asha Frankfurt a registered non-profit association?
Yes. We are a registered non-profit organization under the name "Asha Verein zur Förderung der Schulbildung indischer Kinder e.V.". The registration (Vereinsregister) number is 14619. As a result, any donations you make towards Asha Frankfurt are now eligible for tax exemption.

How do I join Asha?
Asha is an open group, with no bureaucracy or hierarchy. We encourage members to take initiative and volunteer for what they enjoy doing. You can 'join' Asha simply by attending our meetings!

Is there a membership fee?
There is no membership fee required for joining Asha. However, members do contribute, on a purely voluntary basis, funds for administrative expenses.

I do not have much time for meetings. How else can I help?
1:-- Make a one-time donation for an Asha project. See a list of projects here . .
2:-- Make monthly payments (min. EUR 5.00) to Asha Frankfurt. Your donations will diverted to an ongoing project within Asha.
3:-- Help us publicize Asha at local events, within your social network, or by making a presentation in your company.
3:-- Buy Asha merchandise or raise funds online! Visit http://www.ashanet.org/shop.html

I want to make a donation or monthly payments. What are Asha Frankfurt's bank account details?
Thank you for your interest in donating to Asha Frankfurt. Please use the following information to make your bank transfer: 
-- Account Holder Name: Asha Verein
-- Account Nr.: 6400 986 337
-- BLZ: 501 900 00
-- Bank Name: Frankfurter Volksbank
Please also state if you wish to donate for a particular project.

Are my donations eligible for tax exemption?
Yes. As a registered non-profit organization, all donations made towards Asha Frankfurt are eligible for tax exemption.

How does Asha achieve its goals?
We at Asha believe that an educated population is both a critical requisite and an effective catalyst for socio-economic changes in India. We work through non-governmental organizations working in rural areas of the country. We raise funds for these groups, conduct site visits and monitor their progress. We also try to raise awareness in our local community about child illiteracy issues and other social issues in India.

How does Asha select projects?
1:-- We usually hear about projects through mail or word-of-mouth. Asha works with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have no political or religious affiliations. We screen the projects rigorously through correspondence and site visits.
2:-- After a project is approved for support, we raise funds for their requirements.
3:-- After sending the funds, we regularly monitor the progress through periodic written reports and annual site visits

How big is Asha?
Since its inception, people from different parts of the US have joined this endeavor. At present, there are over 35 full-fledged ASHA chapters in various cities and universities, including Berkeley, Cornell, Los Angeles, Madison, MIT, New York City/New Jersey, Phoenix, Seattle, St. Louis, Silicon Valley, Stanford and Washington DC. In 1992 Asha was registered as a Trust at New Delhi by the founder of Asha, Dr. Sandeep Pandey, who went back to India after completing his PhD from Berkeley and is now involved in full-time social work.

What are our costs?
Asha for Education is run entirely by volunteers. Thus, we do not deduct any administrative expenses from general donations, and 100% of the money donated to Asha goes for funding projects in India.

How does Asha Frankfurt as a chapter, operate within the larger framework of the worldwide organization?
Though chapters of Asha are part of the worldwide organization (with the Berkeley chapter being the 'main' chapter of Asha), they function as independent entities. Thus, Asha Frankfurt carries out its own fundraising and funds projects selected by its own members. We do work closely with other chapters and sometimes jointly fund projects.

What are some of the activities of Asha Frankfurt?
We raise funds through direct donations, cultural programs/tournaments and fundraisers. We evaluate and fund projects in India, arrange for site visits and publicize them among our donors.

Where are the meetings held?
Please also join the mailing list for announcements on when and where the meetings are held.

Can I participate even if I don't have much free time?
Yes. Depending on the amount of time commitment you can make, you can volunteer for one-time or periodic activities. You can also help raise funds by doing publicity within your social network.