ASHA's 1999 education fund drive sets a $40,000 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.
Seattle, WA July, 1999: On August 16th, 1999, 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 the nearest Monday to 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 1998 Work an Hour campaign, Asha's first worldwide event, raised approximately $32,000, which was channeled towards providing crucial infrastructural support to three schools in Central India. The 1999 Work an Hour event, with a target of $40,000, will support projects in three Indian states - a school for child laborers in West Bengal, another for landless children in Uttar Pradesh, and a shelter for homeless girl students in Tamil Nadu. All three projects are noteworthy in that they use innovative educational techniques, and were established through local initiative by people who are familiar with the needs of the area. For example, the school being built in West Bengal's impoverished 24 Parganas District, has been set up by volunteers from the local chapter of the Rotary Club to meet the specific needs of the children of migrant laborers, who flock to the district from all over the state.Asha for Education is an action group that aims to bring about social and economic change in India through basic education. Started in 1991 by a few students at the University of California at Berkeley, Asha (meaning 'hope' in several Indian languages) has since grown in strength, and today boasts over 30 chapters worldwide and a volunteer base of students as well as professionals. All donations to Asha are tax-deductible, and no administrative expenses are deducted from such contributions.Donations to Asha may be made over the internet at the Work an Hour website (www.workanhour.com), or in the form of a check made out to "Asha for Education" and mailed to Asha for Education - WAH, 23608, NE 45th Place Redmond, WA - 98053, USA. Asha requests that you include the gift-matching form with your check, if your employer matches donations to tax-deductible groups.Email the coordinators