1 / 26

Asha Foundation: Transforming Lives through Education and Empowerment

Asha Foundation is a non-profit empowering underprivileged communities in India by providing education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods. Join us in making a difference and breaking the cycle of poverty. Our work spans from urban to rural areas, aiding vulnerable populations like street children and tribal communities. Through innovative programs and dedicated volunteers, we aim to create a brighter future for all.

malissad
Download Presentation

Asha Foundation: Transforming Lives through Education and Empowerment

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The World Today If the earth’s population was 100 people, there would be: • 52 females and 48 males • 6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth - all 6 would be from the US • 80 would live in substandard housing • 50 would suffer from malnutrition • 1 would own a computer • 70 would be unable to read • 1 (yes, only one) would have a college education Indus Conference 95b

  2. Literacy Rates Worldwide Source: UNICEF 1999 Indus Conference 95b

  3. Where Does India Stand? Source: Calculated from census data Indus Conference 95b

  4. 100% Male Female 62% 50% 30% 11% 9% 7% 3% 0% Literate Below Class 5 Beyond Class 10 Disparity in literacy 45%

  5. Lack of Education Dependence Poverty The Vicious Cycle

  6. HOW? Can we do something… …to make a DIFFERENCE ?

  7. Over 400 active volunteers in over 40 chapters “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does” - Margaret Mead • At most major universities • At most large metros • Satellite Chapters paired with mentor chapters • Co-founded by Sandeep Pandey, 2002 Magsaysay Award winner Beginning in Berkeley , 1991 - to

  8. “To catalyze socio-economic change in India through the education of underprivileged children” MISSION STATEMENT

  9. Funds Disbursed 1200000 Over $1 million raised in 2000 1000000 800000 600000 400000 200000 0 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 1991 Raised Disbursed Funds Raised - Over $ 1.5 Million in 10 years

  10. Individual Donations Asha Merchandise Raising Funds and Awareness Individual Donations Asha Merchandise

  11. Year Funds collected Projectsfunded 1998 31,000 3 1999 54,000 4 2000 84,000 6 History 8 weeks 1404 donors $100,000 pledged 5 projects

  12. Harbingers of Hope – Runners for Education A Marathon training program Asha trains runners Runners raise money for Asha from friends & family Started in Year 2000 22 runners in 2000 - Raised $ 85,000 45 runners in 2001 - Raised $ 125,000 Previous Marathons: New York City Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon Honolulu, Silicon Valley & Royal Victoria (Canada) Asha-MIT/Boston, 2003 Cape Cod Marathon, Falmouth, MA, October 26th Marine Corps Marathon, Washington DC, October 26th

  13. Silicon Valley Marathon October 28, 2001 (Cisco Way, San Jose) Mile 8 of 26.2 miles !! Runners’ Age : 22 – 62 years old First time Runners : More than 50 % Larisse Dhillon (Honolulu Marathon – 2000) “I am very lucky to be well educated and I want to make a difference by helping to provide the opportunity of education to others. The training program is an excellent way for me to contribute to Asha because in addition to helping education in India, I am also helping myself to become a much healthier person."

  14. Guiding Principles • 100% Volunteer-based • Minimal Hierarchy • Non-political, non-religious • Credibility is the focus

  15. Our Work • Asha Projects: • Urban/Rural • Street Children • Sexually exploited children • Tribal Population • Migrant Laborers • Networking amongst groups • Asha Stars

  16. Our Work • Legislative Awareness • 83rd Amendment • NCERT curriculum • FCRA Regulations • Transfer of material • Books • Computers • Software

  17. Especially vulnerable children • Children on the Streets: • VOICE: classes on Mumbai’s railway platforms • Gradual transition to formal schools • Savings, leadership skills, alternative livelihood • Commercial Sex-Workers • Abuse by customers • Society stigma – no alternative livelihood • TRY, Chennai – a home for children from red light districts • Striking at the root • Community run school in Natpurwa, UP • Alternative livelihood – tailoring, bee-keeping

  18. Tutorial Classes / Study Centers • Sahanivasa, Chittoor Dt, AP • Tuition classes for high school students, help to pass class X • Focus on dalit students • Tremendous improvement in pass rates since Asha’s involvement • SEED, Madurai slums, TN • Study center with lights, books • Volunteer tutors, youth from slums • Spoken English classes • Help and support for specific goals: IAS, teachers, engineers, doctors

  19. Viveka Asha Yojane: Improving Govt. Schools • A Scalable Model • Government of Karnataka, Adopt-a-school program • Adopted 72 schools in Chamarajanagar district • Teacher training, making SDMC (parent-teacher-community) committees functioning, improve infrastructure • Liason with government schemes such as Sarva Siksha Abhiyan • Make the Government Do its Job !!!

  20. Technology and Development • n-logue: Wireless local loop • - with Prof. Jhunjhunwalla, IIT Madras • - 70% of India’s billion people live in small towns and villages • - telephone penetration level of less than 4% • - 3 months to deploy an access tower • Access tower to serve 50 kiosks in 10 villages • Interconnect Asha schools • Replicable • Scalable • Enables wealth creation • Brings government-citizen-business access points closer Work with World Computer Exchange (shipping computers)

  21. Guiding Principles in Projects • Community based: the people should lead the change • Focus on empowerment: women, disabled, lower rungs of society • All-inclusive – no child is left out • Non-sectarian, respect and support pluralism • Constructive socio-economic development and peaceful means of change

  22. 34 Projects Covering 10 Zones 13 Chapters Ongoing Asha Stars Projects

  23. What can you do? • Corporate grants in your company • Help with your specific expertise • Help with contacts (media, govt. officials) • Help with signature campaigns • Publicity for our events

  24. Less of this … MORE of this … Our Hearts, Their Minds, One Hope

  25. Asha for Education www.ashanet.org/mit asha-request@mit.edu All donations to Asha for Education are tax deductible under IRS code 501 (c ) 3.

More Related