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Association for India’s Development -Boise Chapter. General Body Meeting. - March 13, 2004. Why AID?. What is the nature of India's problems and what can Indians in the US do to solve them?.
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Association for India’s Development -Boise Chapter General Body Meeting - March 13, 2004
Why AID? What is the nature of India's problems and what can Indians in the US do to solve them? 13 years ago, Ravi Kuchimanchi and a few other graduate students at the University of Maryland asked themselves this "simple" question. Their answer was the Association for India's Development (AID)........ This burning desire to make a difference, however small it may be, is what characterizes every AID volunteer.
What is AID? • Compassion wherever there is suffering, Conviction that the compassion is strong enough to eliminate suffering, Courage to make this conviction a reality....This is AID!! • (AID) is a voluntary non-profit organization that is committed to supporting a wide variety of social development projects, towards an improved life for the poor and underprivileged, in India
Beliefs and Goals • Interrelated Problems demand interrelated solutions • Participation of the beneficiaries is essential • Work with NGOs on various short-term projects and by long term involvement in selected efforts • Goal is to reach every district or alternate district in India with one such focus effort.
AID at glance... Founded: 1991Incorporation Completed: 2003Headquarters: AID Maryland Chapters in the US: 36Number of Volunteers: ~500Number of Salaried Employees: noneChapters in India: 4Fulltime Volunteers in India: 5 [Jeevan Sathis]Projects Supported so far: 365Projects Currently Ongoing: ~100Indian States Covered: 18Projects Sites Visited: All
Modus Operandi • Project Support • Monetary • Non-monetary • Fund-raising • Individual donations • fundraisers like movies, concerts, festivals • Raise Awareness • Newsletter and other publications • Talks and conferences ..yearly AID conference
What difference can we make by working at such a grass-root level? • AID project in Lodhar, village near Kanpur • Dr. Mahendra Verma, AID volunteer in India + AID support = Jagriti • First School in Lodhar, vocational program, library, electricity, self sustenance • Ripple effect in neighboring villages • AID’s vision • such focus villages in all of India’s 546 districts • AID + NGO = improve quality of life • HBP -- a step in that direction
What difference has AID made? % of Expenditure ($482.1K Total) 16 states 64 NGOs % of Projects (87 Total)
Some sample work! Some respite for these young ones in a non-formal education school after a hard day’s work in the carpet-making industry in Palamau/Garwah. AID-India efforts promoting holistic learning Children learn Charka at the AID-India workshop, Jan 1 2000.
Chapter near YOU AID BOISE at glance... Founded: 2001 Humble beginning with 4 volunteers Current Volutneer base: 28 Number of Salaried Employees: noneProjects Supported so far: 4Projects Currently Ongoing: 4Indian States Covered: 3Projects Sites Visited: All [by AID Boise volunteers] Join us in the Community Service Hour [CSH], every alternate Sunday, 10AM
AID Boise - making difference in India and Boise • Project Support • Site Visits • Review • Fund-raising • Individual donations • fundraisers like movies, concerts, festivals • Community Activities • School Outreach Program • Free events to bring the community together • First of its kind events like Diwali, Summer picnic for enriching community experience and promoting young talent in the Boise community
Awards and Recognition • AID has been featured in The Hindu, siliconindia.com and Education Times of India • AID received the International History Week Humanitarian Leadership Award for the year 1997. • 4-star rating from Charity navigator -- a US based organization
AID is in an exciting phase and we need YOUR SUPPORT • Nirmaan and now Sangharsh also • evolution of AID philosophy and better understanding of ground realities in India • AID Saathis • So all you folks who ask the question “What can I do for India? -- look no further "It is not important how small your contribution is, but it is extremely important that you make it". Volunteer, donate and support AID and together we can do our best for India.
Meet AID Boise Team Office Bearers: • President: Dinesh Chopra • Project Coordinator(s): Sujit Naik & Kiran Vemuri • Event Coordinator(s): Shyam Gooty • Meeting Coordinator: Nithya Balasubramanyam • Treasurer(s): Mayuri Vasireddi & Nishant Sinha • Web Coordinator(s): Lalit Deshmukh & Makarand Jogalekar Volunteers: Mrudula Madireddy, Shiva Markani, Srinivas Palakala, Surabhi Chopra, Dinesh Haridas, Ashish Jog, Pallavi Garg, Geetanjali Tandon, Anuraj Jindal, Mallika Madakasira, Shaheen Malik, Ranjana Sabde, Thiru
Association for India’s Development AID Projects: Holistic Solutions For India’s Development
VRDC, Maharashtra: SAMPARC, Gujarat: Vocational training for women Orphanage for kids Hundred Block Plan, Tamil Nadu: AAA, Maharashtra: Heath, Education, Micro credit Training of Traditional Birth Attendants AID in India Over 365 Projects 18 States
AID Finances - Projects Expenditure $482.1 K (2002-03) • 87 projects • 16 states • 64 NGOs • 5 Saathis
AID Finances - Projects Expenditure $482.1 K (2002-03) • 87 projects • 16 states • 64 NGOs • 5 Saathis
HEALTH CARE EDUCATION MICRO CREDIT VOCATION TRNG Holistic Development Target all aspects of development DEVELOPMENT
Glimpses : Women Empowerment • Micro credit - self help groups • Health awareness campaigns • Literacy programs • Income generation • Social awareness campaigns • (dowry, eco-shop, corruption) • Women’s rights
Glimpses : Sustainable Development • Watershed management programs • Sustainable use of natural resources, watershed • Empowerment of marginal society • Campaigns against pollution • Market resources for rural producers • Technology for rural development
Glimpses : Literacy • Non formal education programs • Vocational training • Child and Adult education • Formal education programs • Social awareness • Hope For A Better Tomorrow
Glimpses : Disaster Management –why? Gujarat Earthquake Orissa Cyclone
Glimpses : Saathi (AID fellow) • Full time work at projects in India • Jeevan Saathi: Committed for life • Saathi: Tenure of 3 years • Started with individuals who were AID volunteers • Expanded to include other committed persons • 4 Jeevan Saathis: Aravinda, Balaji, Ravi, Rachana • 7 Saathis
Project Cycle Project proposal (from NGO directly or through a volunteer/ Saathi) Project review, Site visit Progress, Results Approval, funding
Project Review • AID supports projects that lead towards sustainable developmentof the people involved. • Detailed thorough analysis of the projects takes place before any approval • Pre-approval Visits by volunteers/ Saathi guarantee credibility of projects
Small efforts – BIG EFFECTS • Bilgaon Micro hydel project : MIT innovation of the year award for 2003 • Bijli Bike : Collaborated with IIT, Bombay. International recognition and world wide orders • HBP- Arogya Iyakkam : Unicef award for best child health project • The spark is in everyone AID- Make A Difference
AID BOISE PROJECTS VRDC, Maharashtra: SAMPARC, Gujarat: Hundred Block Plan, Tamil Nadu: AAA, Maharashtra:
AID Boise Project :AAA (Amhi Amchya Arogyasathi)** We For Our Health • Before • TBAs (dais) – no formal training • High % of pregnancy-related deaths & infant mortality • After • Physiological education of reproduction & pregnancy • Hygiene & sanitation • Safe Delivery Kits • Prenatal & neonatal care
AID Boise Project :SAMPARC Anjar Balgram • Situation • One of the biggest earthquakes • Massive casualties • Numerous orphans, vulnerable to exploitation • Short term relief • After • Child care center for 34 children • Food, shelter, education and health for the kids • Long term commitment: 7 yrs
AID Boise Project:VRDC (Vanasthali Rural Development Center) • Before • Unskilled -> low/no income • Unaware -> exploitation • After • Vocational training for 450 semi-literate women • Economically self-supporting • Project being replicated in other villages • Women Empowerment
Site Visit: VRDC – Lalit • Changing the “image of women” in villages • Training semi-literate women • Very talented women • Women entrepreneurs • Trainees: “We stand on our feet”
Project : Hundred Block Plan • An urge to take stake in common man life in India • Massive effort by all AID chapters • Impact in many Indian states • 100 blocks = 6,000 villages = Millions of poorest people directly being affected • AID- Boise supports Thiruvarangulam block (~ 60 villages), Tamil Nadu • Implemented by Tamil Nadu Science Forum (TNSF) : A forum for scientists, farmers, teachers & the marginal. • Results: Better utilization of primaryhealth centers, reduced infant mortality (Arogya Iyakkam), improved womens’ health, micro-credit self-help group
Site Visit: Hundred Block Plan - Nithya • Visit to Thiruvarangulam block • Arogya Iyakkam (Health Movement): I got to watch weight taking ceremony at Alangudi block • Met 3 block full timers and several village volunteers • Superb organization • Committed volunteers • Amazing reduction in infant mortality • Reduction in child mal-nutrition
AID Boise Projects under review • Lok Satta, Andhra Pradesh : Governance reforms, Panchayat charter for better govt. service at village level • AAA - Mobile Health Clinic, Maharashtra : Health service for the tribal districts devoid of health care centre • Friends of Children : Meeting educational & livelihood needs of under privileged children
Contribute • Monetary/non-monetary • Turn ideas into action: bring projects • Help organize fund-raising drives • Volunteer
Association for India’s Development Holistic Solutions For India’s Development
Questions ?? • Yours • Ours • Any project suggestion/ area of focus? • Would like non-GBM presentation on projects? • Anything you want AID to do locally?
Volunteer slides Set Goals for 2004-05
Boise chapter goals 2003 • Actively look at fields and states not covered : A- • Take more projects than in the past : A • Project update meeting every 2 months : B- • Visit projects being supported : B • Samparc • AAA-TBA • VRDC • HBP • HBP fund drive: D
What next • Chapters working together or independent • Missing areas of development (environment, governance reforms) • Missing states (many projects in some) • Success rate and follow up • Projects without funds for AID Boise chapter, for all of AID
Actions • New project database • New proposals & status • Existing projects & status • NGOs and visits • Pre-defined categories (unlike old dbase) • Use it
Boise Association for India’s Development Financial Summary
All donations to AID are tax-deductible in the U.S.A. Our federal tax ID number is 04-3652609 Boise Boise Structure • AID, Mary Land is the “Head Quarter” • Money in banks, managed by HQ • Unrestricted • Restricted • Zonal Treasurers • Four geographical zones • For managing the donations only • All events Accounting by HQ • Project checks managed by the Electoral Board
Boise ALL AID Finances Source: AID Financial Statements
Boise Boise Finances – Funds Generated
Boise Boise Finances – Projects Funding • Total funds as of March 2004 = $3227.18
Boise Boise Finances – Funds Generated • Total funds as of March 2004 = $3227.18