Seattle Marathon >> Miles for Smiles - Asha for Education >> Title

Training for and running the marathon is my way of demonstrating the commitment I have to Asha and its cause of working at the grassroots of poor Indian communities for socio-economic upliftment. Beginning as an organization working to bring education to underprivileged children, Asha's mission today has grown to rejuvenating the entire community these children live in and holistically bettering not just their own lives but those of their families as well.

100% of your donations made to Asha goes to fund projects in India. All administrative expenses are covered by volunteers. You can read more about the projects:
http://www.ashanet.org/projects/chapter-view.php?&a=29

I'm asking you to sponsor my run with whatever contribution you can make. All donations are tax deductible, and we are registered with many companies for donation-matching programs. Any contribution you make will help achieve these marathon goals and go a long mile in bringing smiles, education, well-being and awareness to children and their communities.

The marathon is beneficial for me in terms of physical fitness and strengthening the mind. I've always wanted to run a marathon as I enjoy sports and running for a cause makes it even more special for me. Especially helping children to be able to get education that will open up a lot of opportunities for them. This is my first ever marathon, I will be running the half marathon. I am really looking forward to accomplishing this goal for a purpose.

What is Asha for Education?

Asha for Education is a non-profit voluntary organization dedicated to socio-economic change in India mainly using the medium of education. Asha also address other development and human concerns on gender, health-care, disability and such related issues. Beginning as an organization working to bring education to underprivileged children, Asha's mission today has grown to rejuvenating the entire community these children live in and holistically bettering not just their own lives but those of their families as well. Asha is a zero-overhead organization - your entire donation goes to fund projects.

WHY RUN? How is it related to Asha and fundraising?

The most I have run before I started to train for the Seattle half marathon was 1.5 kilometers in high school. I have always felt the urge to run but never took it seriously. My passion has always been to get involved in projects that work at the grassroots level to make society a better place and to educate people to give them confidence and make them self-sustaining. I found the perfect vehicle linking the two in the form of miles for smiles - A program by Asha. Now the urge to run is not just an urge, but a commitment and a sense of satisfaction that each mile I run will raise money that will fund a project in India with a well defined goal to better society. Running 13.1 miles is my way of demonstrating the commitment I have for working towards these projects. All funds raised from the miles for smiles 08 program will go towards Asha's project partners in India. You can read more about these projects at http://www.ashanet.org/projects/chapter-view.php?&a=29

What Should YOU do?

My fundraising goal for this program is $500. I'm asking you to sponsor my run with whatever contribution you can make and be a part of my commitment and this noble cause. As an example of what your funds can do: $11 can take care of total living expenses for a child (Shastri School for hearing impaired) for a month, $12.50 can take care of the entire educational expenses of a child for a month, $62 can take care of medical expenses and partial educational expenses for a hemophilic child. No amount is small. With as little as $10, you can have a big impact on a child's life or education. All donations are tax deductible, and we are registered with many companies for donation-matching programs. Any contribution you make will help achieve these marathon goals and go a long mile in bringing smiles, education, well-being and awareness to children and their communities.

This is my 4th time running in the Seattle Marathon and the 2nd time running for Asha. Last year I joined Team Asha and ran the full marathon. More about my training and race experience in Asha Newsletter. Thanks to my friends and colleagues, I was able to reach my fundraising goal of $1310 last year. This year I am extending my involvement with Asha by coordinating the Miles for Smiles 08 team. I am also a secondary steward for an Asha project Vigyan Ashram.

Why Asha?

You can spot needy people and hand over the money which might help them solve their short-term problems. But big organizations like Asha channel many such donations towards projects with plans to sustain them in the long term and make bigger and longer lasting impact.

How do I know that the money is being used in the best way possible?

Every year, the funded projects are visited by Asha volunteers. The project proposal and the site visit report is reviewed carefully and voted upon at bi-weekly meetings. The meetings are open to public.

In fact if you are ready to spend some time, the bi-weekly meetings are an opportunity to take your involvement to the next step. We are also looking for people volunteering to visit the project sites.

My goals:

This year I have committed to raising $500 through the 'Miles For Smiles' program. Fundraising is one of the aims of this program. An equally important aim is to raise awareness about the work Asha is doing to bring positive changes to the grassroots of deprived Indian communities and make them self sufficient. So my secondary goal is to get more donors. Last year 10 people donated towards my fundraising goal. This year I am hoping to reach another 20 donors.

However small the amount I get from an individual donor, I will be happy if it comes with a willingness to be part of these genuine efforts. So please consider contributing at whatever level you can and help me exceed both of my goals.

My progress till date:

I enjoy running and have been running 2-4 miles, though mostly on the treadmill, for the past few years. Running the marathon seemed to be a good way to push myself further and out in the open. But, needless to say, I needed more motivation. Through my volunteer work at Asha, I learnt about the "Miles for Smiles" program. Aha - found a reason! I'm now a part of the Asha Seattle Marathon team, which has the added benefit of being able to raise funds.

Asha for Education is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education of the under privileged in India. Asha's mission today has grown to rejuvenating the entire community these children live in and holistically bettering not just their lives but those of their families as well. I, myself, am a volunteer at Asha. You can learn about the project that I'm stewarding here: http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=881. To know more about other projects that Asha supports, visit http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project.php?&a=29. My purpose for participating in the "Miles for smiles" program is not only to help raise funds to better the lives of those children who are not-so-blessed as some of us, but in the process also make more and more people aware of this cause and the simple ways in which we can contribute.

Why Asha?

•Asha is a zero-overhead organization - your entire donation goes to fund projects. Asha was ranked #1 among "Top Ten Slam-dunk Charities".

•Asha is registered with several companies for donation-matching programs. If your employer is not on the list, please contact your HR department to find out if your company matches donations.

•All donations in the US are 100% tax-deductible; donations in India are 50% deductible.

I'm asking you to contribute towards my miles in whatever way you can - either by making a contribution or by just spreading word about the cause or even better by deciding to participate in the "Miles for Smiles" program next year! Remember that no amount is big or small. Your contribution will go towards a great cause and will go a long mile in bringing smiles, education, well-being and awareness to children and their communities. And of course, I shall be thinking of every donor as I take those steps towards the finish line :)

I am very excited to run a half marathon for the first time in my life. I have always loved running and routinely participate in 5K runs. While I always considered running as a good form of exercise, Asha's noble goals motivated me to practice for this marathon. This event also provides me with the opportunity of being a role model for my 2 kids who need to learn about charity and fitness.

Asha is a zero-overhead organization - your entire donation goes to fund projects. All funds raised from the Miles For Smiles 08 program will go towards our project partners in India. You can read more about the projects:
http://www.ashanet.org/projects/chapter-view.php?&a=29

Almost three years ago, a visit to Muskaan, an NGO along the periphery of a slum area in Bhopal, profoundly influenced my commitment to education and socio-economic development in India.

Thanksgiving Day Weekend, I'm walking 26.2 miles in the Seattle Marathon in support of Asha for Education.

Training for and walking the Seattle Marathon is one of the ways I demonstrate my commitment to Asha's work at the grassroots level with poor Indian communities for socio-economic upliftment. Beginning as an organization working to bring education to underprivileged children, Asha's mission today, has grown to rejuvenate the entire communities that the children reside in, not only to better their own lives, but their families as well.

Muskaan, one of Asha's project partners in India, is an exemplary example, of how an organization grew from the humblest notion of educating 20 children to extend to a commitment of an entire community: 450 children plus their families! Today, Muskaan extensively works with six slum areas of Bhopal. In addition to education, they also provide community and health care programs. Some of the programs include: health and nutrition classes, savings groups, and income generation programs (a sewing group, broom making group, and paper bag making group).

Last year, I visited Muskaan for the second time. Sitting around a circle on the floor of the girl's hostel, I was eager to hear how the dreams of the teenage girls surrounding me continued to transform. What do you want to be? Voices danced with hope as one by one, the girls revealed their latest aspirations.

Parents throughout the world take the freedoms of their children to purse any path desired, for granted. It is a mark of triumph when a child's ambitions are fulfilled, particularly so in India, when many children have overcome insurmountable odds to purse a dream which should be their inheritance - the right to an education.

The girls crave learning; education is their wings to personal betterment. They do not have the luxury of parents pushing them out the door to school. Prior to living in the hostel, most girls worked two to six hours a day, either ragpicking or watching siblings while their parents ragpicked, sifting through trash for small valuables to resell for meager wages to support their families. Families are understandably reluctant to send their children to school when every rupee earned is barely enough to survive. Adding to the reluctance is the mere fact that they are women. Beginning in early adolescence there is almost weekly pressure for the girls to view prospective husbands, and marry away. The girls persistently push back. Their parents want marriage; the girls want education. The girls aim high; their eyes wide with hope and thirst for knowledge.

In animated voices, the girls reveal their dreams to me. One girl wants to be a preschool teacher; another wants to be an Engineer. Two years previously, Geeta dreamed of being a Biologist, now she yearns to be a Biology teacher. I listen in quiet reverie; privy of the knowledge that these girls are trailblazers; they are the first to reach these educational heights in Muskaan; they infuse the dreams of other children.

This year, three of the girls graduated from the 12th standard, two of them now attend college, including Geeta. They are the first of Muskaan's children to complete primary school and go to college. They lead the way for others to follow.

Their dreams would not be possible if it wasn't for the incredible work of Asha, it's project partners in India, and the support we receive from you. Please help support my walk with whatever contribution you can make. 100% of all donations will go directly to our project partners in India, as Asha is a zero-overhead organization. You can read more about our projects at: http://www.ashanet.org/projects/chapter-view.php?&a=29

It is with Muskaan's children and all of the other Asha projects in mind, that I will set out to walk 26.2 miles in the Seattle Marathon this November.

Each mile I trek will remind me of the limitless possibilities that hope springs in thousands of children throughout India if we chose to invest a small part of our lives into their futures.

With Peace & Education for All,

Deb Kukreja
Asha Seattle Chapter Coordinator

Whenever I look back, I know that I had fairly good schooling and some extra-ordinary teachers who impacted my life. Though I do not come from a rich background, I had decent enough economic conditions at home for me to pursue my interests and also further education. I have loving parents who encouraged and supported my studies and my education.

I am grateful for all these blessings, but not everyone has these privileges. Primary education, I believe, is a basic right for every child. But there are millions of children in India who are deprived of that basic right. Parents cannot afford putting their child through school, children have to start working at an early age, and some are even subjected to prostitution. Many towns and small cities lack the proper infrastructure to provide the primary education for these children. I personally have visited schools where there are no proper toilets, or no toilets at all. There is lack of transportation system for these children, lack of teachers, lack of blackboards. It is surprising that even a small contribution from our side can make a significant difference for these children.

I have commited to raise 500$ by commiting to run a half marathon this year. As one of my friends has written, marathon has nothing to do with fundraising, but it is a way of commiting to the cause and hoping that you find my efforts to be sincere and commited. It is also to raise awareness. Asha is a non-profit organization with a very open structure. Their financial statements are published on the website. For example you can review some of the projects for formal schools here - Formal School Projects . They have biweekly meetings open to the public where different projects , their fund allocations in the past, the impact the funds created and their future fund requirements and justifications are reviewed. Many volunteers in Asha, go and visit the schools/institutes being sponsored. These people present site visit reports during these meetings as well.

I request you to contribute towards this effort, at a level which you can and which you think is appropriate. Also I would be happy to provide you with further details of Asha, and it's projects. Feel free to contact me. I would be happy to receive even the smallest contribution from an individual. Thanks for reading my statement and just click on donate to make your contribution.

Chandu - The kid who inspired me.

I am running the Marathon for Chandu and other children in India and worldwide, who are unable to afford quality education and hence do not perceive its true value. I want to try to change their perspective about education and enable them to live a better life. Read on to learn more.
Chandu is a 12 year old child living in India. He is the eldest amongst 3 siblings; his father, who was a construction site worker, passed away a few years back and his mother works as a domestic maidservant (i.e. works at other peoples' homes - cleaning, washing dishes etc). Chandu is not at all interested in education or school; and for good reason - he knows that the kind of education he can afford will most certainly not enable him to pursue a decent career. So rather than going to school, he'd rather spend his time earning a livelihood to support himself and his family.
Chandu has it all figured out. His first option is to make it to Bollywood and pursue career acting in movies. If that doesn't workout (very likely), he will get into the dark world of crime and pursue a career as a criminal! He doesn't feel the need for education for either of these careers, which actually is quite true. He is not too enthused about pursuing a career that is similar to his parents' (if you'd even consider that as a career).

SO - a 12 year old child thinking about earning a living to support his family and considering a career as a criminal?? There is something so gravely wrong about this that it sends a chill through my spine. Worse, Chandu is not the only child in this situation.
I wish this was just a story from a movie and I could forget about it and move on. But unfortunately I can't and I think a lot about Chandu and other such children - wondering if things could be made right for them. I often ask myself - why shouldn't they get quality education that'll enable them to pursue a decent career and have a good life? Why are they being punished for being born in poverty? Is it right on my part to continue living in such a world without doing anything about it? What can we, as a society, do to improve their lives?
Hounded as I was with these questions; I was fortunate to see a flyer for Asha's Miles For Smiles program at the UW. I immediately checked them out online, was convinced of their cause and decided to participate in the Seattle Marathon as part of the Asha Miles For Smiles team. Asha (meaning hope) has given me a glimmer of hope that perhaps Chandu's life is not doomed just yet. I dedicate this run to the 12 year old Chandu, who (unknowingly) shattered any illusions I might've had of me living in a fair and just world.

If questions like the ones that haunt me, bother you as well; I request you to make a contribution to the cause. I would really appreciate and respect your doing so. I also encourage you to check out the projects that Asha's Seattle chapter is involved in.

Thank you for taking the time to read through Chandu's story!

वन्दे मातरम्!!

For a brief background, Asha for Education is

A non-profit organization that contributes to socioeconomic changes through education in India.
Ranked #1 among "Top Ten Slam-dunk charities".
A zero-overhead organization (every contribution will directly go towards a project in India).
Has been funding hundreds of projects effecting thousands of children for the last 17 years.

More information about Asha can be found here http://www.ashanet.org/.

I am privileged to be a project steward and coordinator for Asha Seattle for the last two years. Asha Seattle is one of the biggest chapters of Asha and is currently funding about 50 projects in India. It has provided me with various opportunities to be a part of what I call 'Honest Commitment'. The project information about one of the two projects I steward can be found here
http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=900.
Information about other Asha Seattle projects can be found here
http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project.php?&a=29.

As part of my commitment to Asha Seattle, I am requesting you to sponsor my miles this year. Every contribution you make to my miles will directly go towards helping a child in India. For every child Asha supports, there are hundred other children left behind without support. So, your contribution will help achieve our marathon fundraising goals, provide educational opportunities to those children left behind and go a long mile in bringing smiles, education, well-being and awareness to many children and their communities.

Help Me Reach My Goal of raising $5000. Please donate as much as you can to support our great cause. All donations are tax deductible, and we are registered with many companies for donation-matching programs.

Why am I running?

I ran my first half-marathon in 2006 because it was on my birthday. I really enjoyed running. This year Seafair marathon course will take us over the 520 bridge, of course on foot. That was the reason which gave me final push into committing to run another half marathon. Though what got me initially started was my involvement with Asha Seattle.

Why Asha for Education?

Asha is a "Zero overhead" organization, completely driven by volunteers (including the administrative expenses) ensuring 100% of your donations are sent to our partner groups in India. Beginning as an organization working to bring education to underprivileged children, Asha's mission today has grown to rejuvenating the entire community these children live in and holistically improve not just their own lives but those of their families as well. All funds raised from the Miles For Smiles 06 program will go towards our project partners in India. You can read more about the projects:

http://www.ashanet.org/projects/chapter-view.php?&a=29

However, none of this would be possible without your support. The work that Asha does would not happen without your support. Your donation will make a difference in children's lives, and will go long way toward bringing about a socio-economic change, where the need continues to be high. I'm asking you to sponsor my run with whatever contribution you can make. All donations are tax deductible, and we are registered with many companies for donation-matching programs.

Any contribution you make will help achieve these marathon goals and go a long mile in bringing smiles, education, well-being and awareness to children and their communities.

I am not a runner, and have not ever run more than two miles in my life before I started training for the Seattle Marathon 2008. But I had been training myself for the Seattle Marathon consistently since August, running every week, irrespective of rain or shine. And that meant a lot of self-discipline, hard work and commitment. What motivated me for running the Marathon this year? I am running to raise funds for Asha for Education, a non-profit organization working towards social empowerment of poor and socially marginalized children in India.

I have been associated with Asha for Education, Seattle Chapter since 2003. During these five years I have been moved and amazed by the wonderful work that Asha does to bring a ray of hope in the lives of thousands of children and families, bringing change where it matters. Both through my lived experience in India, as well as through my training as a social scientist, I have become aware of the immense amount of structural injustices that exist in India today. While we hear about India's progress in the fields of science and technology, it is a reality that about 46% of Indian women do not have access to education. Access to education in many cases is restricted by one's class, caste, gender and ethnic backgrounds.

Asha for Education helps to alleviate these problems by working with various community-based organizations. By interpreting education as a holistic life skill, Asha for Education works towards helping marginalized children to become socially empowered. This might mean bringing schools to the child laborers in Maharashtra through the Project Door Step School, enabling tribal children in Bihar to participate in mainstream society while at the same time learning about their own heritage through Project Uthnao, or even helping children with special needs from poor families in Kolkata become independent through Project Ahead. Asha is completely volunteer run, non-hierarchical and has zero overhead. So 100% of your donations will go directly to our projects to bring in more smiles and hope.

To learn more about Asha for Education projects please visit our projects partner page.

Please help me to further help Asha for Education continue with all the wonderful work. Without donations we would not be able to continue supporting people who most need our help. Help me meet my goal of raising funds for Asha by donating as little or as much as you wish to. Every single penny will be gratefully appreciated. I am doing all the training, you just have to click below:

Research about education system in India helped me to realize that our society doesn't contribute enough and makes me wonder, Why can't Children get what they deserve? During the same research, I found out that Asha for Education is one of the very few committed organizations that are dedicated to education in India. So, I have committed to participate in marathon for Asha Seattle to become a part of this organization's great cause.

<><><><><> Lets try and help the world to change <><><><><>

In late April, I decided to take on a personal challenge to run my first Marathon.

WHY!

I am running to improve the lives of underprivileged kids in India. These kids live in abject poverty and see no hope for improving their lives. These kids are like raw diamonds waiting for someone to bring out the dazzle in them. Education is the tool that can be used to shape and polish these diamonds waiting to be discovered. It takes a very small amount to give basic education to kids and this small amount will have an impact that lasts their lifetime and may be for generations.

I don't think I have run more than 1 mile at a time prior to April. After watching Nova Marathon challenge, I thought I should try running a Marathon. Then I saw an e-mail that said "Run a Marathon and make an impact on kids lives".

What better way to keep fit, see if I could accomplish something that sounds impossible and bring smiles to kids at the same time.

How does running help kids in India?Let me introduce you to Asha for education. It is an excellent organization that is working at the grass roots for the uplifting poor communities in India. Their main focus is to bring education to underprivileged kids and rejuvenating the communities these children live in. By running as part of the Miles for Smiles program I hope to raise funds and awareness of this organization. You can find more information and the projects sponsored by Asha at www.ashanet.org/seattle

Asha for education is a volunteer driven organization.

100% of your donation goes to our project partners in India. All administrative costs are covered by volunteers.
Transparent & accountable: Fund utilization and project work are available publicly online for everyone to review
Holistic approach to Education: Not just literacy; Focused on empowering communities and bringing socio economic change

How can you help?

Sponsor my run by following the link below. I have made a commitment to raise $1000 for Asha this year as part of the Miles for Smiles initiative. Any amount is appreciated. If you are working for a company that matches your contributions, consider maximizing your contribution by ensuring that you donate the minimum amount required for matching and completing the paperwork required to match your donation.

Get involved with Asha. As Asha is a volunteer driven organization there will always be opportunities to contribute in ways that matches your interests. See http://www.ashanet.org/index.php?page=involve for details.

Finally, if you are in Seattle, on Nov 30th come to the marathon to cheer the runners. After running 20 miles (finished 20 miles in 4hours with about 20 minutes breaks - 11/1) every bit of encouragement and support will help me keep motivated and help successfully complete the course.

Thanks for helping out underprivileged kids in India!

I ran a half marathon once in 2006. It was so gruelling that I made up my mind never to run again! But here I am again trying to run twice that distance this year. I sure have an idea of how gruelling this is going to be. But why am I determined to do this again? The belief that I can raise funds sufficient to sponsor the education of 9 children for one full year has constantly been driving me. The list of the children and their profiles can be found here - EOTO Children. These children come from economically backward families where their condition is often looked upon as a social stigma. It takes only $25 to sponsor the education of one child for two months. I have committed to raise $50 for every mile I run, thus enabling me to help sponsor upto 9 children for one year.

Well, why am I choosing these children? They are the direct beneficiaries of a project supported by Asha Seattle. Asha Seattle is the largest chapter of Asha for Education and I have been volunteering for it for the last couple of years. I attend most of their meetings and what I have observed is that every project they handle, is carefully chosen after analyzing a lot of parameters like the credibility of the grass-root organization working with the kids, their success rate and the scale of impact. Every project is evaluated annually based on a site-visit report from a volunteer who visits the project in India. It has consistently been ranked #1 among international charities according to Charity Navigator.

100% of your donations go towards funding projects in India. The funds utilized for all projects are available online for everyone to review. The list of all the projects supported by the Seattle chapter is here - http://www.ashanet.org/projects/chapter-view.php?a=29

I hope you will support my run. Please click on the orange "donate" button below to do so. All your donations are tax free as Asha for Education is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. I very much appreciate your donation and thanks a lot for making a difference in the lives of these children.

I was the one among us who was into day to day activities, until i heard about Team Asha, a Zero Overhead Non Profit Organization. Asha for Education, is a all volunteer base organization, which works on socio-economic programs for under-privileged Indian children.

Hearing about the initiatives and projects carried out by ASHA, I was interested to be part of it and contribute in whatever possible way I could. As a solidarity, i committed to raise funds for the Organization. I strongly felt, helping education of a under-privileged children would indirectly help a family in years to come. I felt requesting funds just by mere request wouldn't express much of what I feel towards the cause. As a expression of commitment, I committed to run a marathon and raise funds.

I started preparing for the Seattle marathon with the basic force driving me through my workouts, very thought of helping a child get basic education through fund raising. Here comes the day so nearer, the 30th of November, when happens the seattle-marathon.

I have committed to raise $500 through my run, I'm requesting you to sponsor my run with whatever contribution you can make. 100% of your donations goes to Asha, to fund projects in India. All administrative expenses are covered by volunteers. You can read more about the projects: http://www.ashanet.org/projects/chapter-view.php?&a=29

All donations are tax deductible, and we are registered with many companies for donation-matching programs. Any contribution you make will help achieve these marathon goals and go a long mile in bringing smiles, education, well-being and awareness to children and their communities.

The impact that your donation could have, is phenomenal in terms of educating a child, I sincerely request you to contribute any amount of your wish towards this social cause. I request you to sponsor my run and all the proceeds helps education of a child, which matters a lot.

This is my third year running (pun intended!) in the Seattle Marathon for Asha, and will be my second full Seattle Marathon. The fact that I keep coming back is a personal testimony to the fact that its always been a very satisfying experience to fundraise for a worthy cause. "To share the joys of running, and show some of the great Seattle outdoors, here's a running collection of some mobile camera shots from my training 'home ground': http://picasaweb.google.com/kpspics/RunningAtMyrtleEdwardsPark

Sponsor my Marathon (credit card / check)