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ASHA's 2001 education fund drive sets a $100,000 target.
Editors' note: India Together is happy to support and promote this fund drive, and we sincerely hope that Asha's target will be passed in style. When you fill out the pledge form, please be sure to indicate that you read about the pledge on India Together.
July, 2001:
On August 15th, 2001, people all over the
world will participate in a campaign to raise funds for basic education in
India. Asha for Education, a US-based nonprofit organization, designed the
Work
an Hour campaign to afford people everywhere the opportunity to work
towards a more educated India. On India's Independence Day, such
well-wishers may donate an hour's pay to Asha, to help educate some of the
50 million children who have never seen a school.The 2000 Work an Hour
campaign raised over $84,000, which was channeled towards providing
crucial infrastructural support to three schools in India. The 2001 Work
an Hour event, with a target of $100,000, will support the following
projects, and will run until September 5, 2001.
- APSA: Based in Bangalore, Karnataka, this project involves the establishment of ten centers to help prevent child labor. Each will serve 40-50 children, the objective being to prevent slum children from dropping out of school in order to join the labor force.
- Anandwan: Anandwan, run by Vikas Amte - son of Leprosy and Narmada Bachao related activist Baba Amte, is the source of a self-sustained existence for a large community of the disabled and handicapped. A part of this large project is the vocational centre for the disabled/underprivileged students "Yuvagram" that Work An Hour intends to fund. The construction of this vocational centre was funded by Asha's 1999 Work an Hour fundraiser.
- Rural Development Institute (RDI): In the Garhwal Himalayas, where education is a scarce commodity, RDI has been working to bring about sustainable development since 1991. To empower adolescents into standing up to the practical realities, the project seeks to initiate self-management programs and conduct technical training camps to equip them with the skills for earning a livelihood.
- Irula: Afflicted with nearly 100% illiteracy, the Irulas are a tribal people who have been repeately exploited by landlords and subjected to tremendous economic hardships. Last year, Asha contributed (through Work An Hour 2000) by starting eight motivational centers in different villages, benefitting more than 450 Irula children. This year is an extension of the same, including recurring expenses to sustain these centers.
- Vanavasi Ashram: A residential tribal school in Wayanad district, Kerala, that provides education and training to children until the 7th standard. Its short-term objective is to extend to the 10th standard and ensure that the students do not abandon their studies after the 7th. In the long run, upliftment of the tribals around the area by a series of education related projects remains the primary goal.
