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Frequently
Asked Questions
If you would
like to volunteer some of your free time for Asha, join us as an
active member, wish to contribute monetarily or are just curious,
read on….!
What
is Asha for Education?
Asha is a 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.
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.
Who
does Asha - Munich consists of?
We are a group
of professionals from the Munich and surrounding areas.
How
does Asha - Munich 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 - Munich 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 - Munich?
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.
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.
Where
are the meetings held?
Asha meetings
are open to all. Please contact us or visit http://www.ashanet.org/munich
for information on when and where our meetings are 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 during social/cultural functions, or by any of
the activities listed below.
How
can I help raise funds?
1. Make a donation
to Asha project funds.
2. Help us publicize
Asha at local events or by making a presentation in your company.
3. Buy Asha
merchandise or raise funds online! Visit http://www.ashanet.org/shop.html
4. Join the
Asha-Stars program where contributors adopt a project: they research
it, evaluate it, support it and monitor it.
Where
do I find more information about Asha?
www.ashanet.org
email:
asha_munich@yahoo.com
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@2005,,
copy rights reserved
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Updated
on 26 October 2005
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