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Asha Seattle

Palani Sundarmurthy

Hello, I am Palani Sundaramurthy and I’m looking forward to a fun event on July 9-10 weekend. During that time I will be bicycling 212 miles from Seattle to Portland (STP) for Asha. I’m doing this ride to raise funds for a cause that I passionately believe in and need your support to reach my fundraising goal of $10 per mile!

While volunteering with Asha, I have seen first-hand how education can transform lives and be the catalyst for positive change in many underprivileged communities in India. I am a project coordinator for Adruta Children’s Home in Bhubaneswar, Orissa (East India). The story began with one man, Prof. Mohanty, when he found an abandoned girl child at his doorstep. He chose to confront the problem and stepped up to the occasion.  Adruta Home was formed to care for this child as well as other abandoned girls in the neighborhood. Today more than 55 girls – ranging from newborns to 16-year olds call Adruta their home. This is not just a place where neglected girls have access to the basic necessities like food, shelter and clothing – but it is a center of excellence where these children are given opportunities to realize their ambition and develop into confident, independent women. They excel in extra-curricular activities like music, dance and yoga. Many of the girls are accomplished in their own right – you can find national-level artists and academic rank holders in their midst. Thanks to the dedication and selfless hard work of the staff, Adruta Home has won several national and state level awards.

Another Asha project that I am closely involved with is the Senchiamma School in Senjiagaram village near Chennai (South India). It was founded in a poor tribal area, where the combined education of the entire community was zero! This early childhood education center is run with the support of the local community and provides a safe place and nutritious food for young children less than 5 years of age. The specially trained teachers, who are drawn from the local community, use a Montessori style system to inspire these children and set them up for success as they move to the Government-run primary schools. The community has seen a dramatic improvement in enrollment as a result of this initiative.

Stories like these inspire me and encourage me to think of interesting ways to solve challenging problems and bring meaningful impact. Being involved in this endeavor has taught me the true significance of Asha, which literally means ‘hope’ in many Indian languages.

And of course, in the process I’ve discovered the joys of biking (in the rain, up the hills and watching the sun set at Lake Washington J). You can learn more about Asha here or email me to chat over a cup of coffee or follow my ride. Thanks for your support – and remember that Microsoft and other organizations can double your contributions through their matching program!   

Classical Dance performance from the girls at Adruta Children Home

“Learning By Doing” – flash cards (written in the native language) is a powerful teaching tool at the Early Childhood Learning Center at Senchiagaram 

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