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2. 2 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  70 would be unable to read  50 would suffer from malnutrition  1 would be near death; 1 would be near birth  1 (yes, only one) would have a college education  1 would own a computer

3. 3 Literacy Rates Worldwide Source: UNICEF 1999 WorldSouth AsiaSub- Saharan Africa Middle East/ North Africa East Asia/ Pacific Latin America & Caribbean BalticLeast Deve. Countries

4. 4 The Vicious Cycle Lack of Education Poverty Child Labor

5. 5 Why Education? Awareness of Rights Ability to Exercise Civic Rights Improved Access to Opportunities Economic Mobility Improve Gender Equality Overall Development

6. 6 Lack of education - Where does it take a child? Child Exploitation Child labor Population explosion Unsanitary conditions Lower standard of living

7. 7 The Constitution of India "The State shall endeavor to provide within a period of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution, free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of 14 years." Directive Principles of State Policy, 1950

8. 8 India’s Progress in Literacy Source: Calculated from census data

9. 9 Education Expenditure/GNP Source: Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, Education at a Glance 1996

10. 10 Social & Regional Disparity Source: PROBE Report 1999

11. 11 Myth 1: Parents not Interested in Education Is it important for a BOY to be educated? 98% Yes 2% No Why? 87%Improves employment and income opportunities 29%Improves social status 24%Improves confidence or self-esteem Is it important for a GIRL to be educated?89% Yes 11% No Why? 50%Helps to write letters and keep accounts 40%Improves employment and income opportunities 35%Improves marriage prospects Source: PROBE Report 1999

12. 12 Myth 2: Child Labor is the Main Obstacle Percent of children in work force; Census of India (1991) National Sample Survey NCAER Survey From Probe 1999 Survey for BIMARU; percent who worked more than 8 hours average time spent working Girls 8.8% 7.8% 3.5% Boys 10.0% 6.9% 4.4% 20% 4.2 hrs 22% 5.1 hrs Note: Statistics for children aged 5-14 Source: PROBE Report 1999

13. 13 Myth 3: Elementary Education is Free !! Average cost of sending a child to school Primary Level: NSS Estimate (1986-87)Rs. 212 excl. clothing PROBE Estimate (1996)Rs. 318 Note: NSS is National Sample Survey Source: PROBE Report 1999

14. 14 But There is Hope – HP Example Source: PROBE 1999

15. 15 Himachal - Key Success Factors Based entirely on government schools, with relatively little contribution from private institutions Driven by good quality schools, family and society involvement High level of parental and societal motivation and involvement Political commitment Children’s education accompanied by adult education Good quality schools (infrastructure and teachers) Positive rapport between parents and teachers Low teacher-child ratio Low gender bias

16. 16 How You can Get Involved YOU and Asha Learn More About Issues Publicize Volunteer Support a Project

17. 17 Our Mission To catalyze socio-economic change through education for the underprivileged children in India

18. 18 Introduction Asha supports socio-economic change via education for under-privileged children in India Every dollar raised by Asha goes directly to support education Asha for education is a non-profit organization It is run entirely by volunteers

19. 19 Asha: Some Facts Started in UC Berkeley in 1991 40+ chapters worldwide 300+ Active volunteers 130+ projects Total disbursements until now - over $1.5 million

20. 20 34 Chapters in the US At most major universities At most large metro with concentrations of Indians Satellite Chapters paired with mentor chapters

21. 21 Fund Raised

22. 22 Over $1.5M Disbursed in 10 Years As % of Funds Raised

23. 23 Unique Projects By Year Excludes double-counting of projects supported by multiple chapters

24. 24 Asha Projects: Basic Criteria Must improve the general welfare of the community with basic education as a major component Non-sectarian groups which do not have any political or religious agenda Do not discriminate on the basis of caste, religion or sex Small, yet, deserving projects that find it difficult to obtain funds from elsewhere

25. 25 Project Monitoring Projects provide periodic finance statements, progress reports, correspond on management issues etc. Projects are monitored through visits either by Asha volunteers or the various groups Asha works with, such as AID, CRY etc. Projects are monitored for reduction in dropout rate commitment to socio-economic change in the region increase in number of students improvement in facilities

26. 26 Location - Kasuva village, outskirts of Madras Sevalaya started as an orphanage in 1988 Now striving to be a full fledged campus with a school, medical center, library, goshala and a home for orphans The school will serve the children at the campus and from the nearby villages - a self reliant system We are supporting the building of a classroom Activities include conducting annual medical camps, educational camps and tours, literary programs, N..S.S camps Contact Mukund - mukundr1@hotmail.com for more details Sevalaya - Mahakavi Bharathiyar School

27. 27 Location - Kamthana, Yedlapur, Bidar, Karnataka Aralu is a NGO striving for socio economic changes in this drought prone backward area In the process of starting day care centers for young children of working mothers and non-formal education centers for children between 6-14 yrs. The school will serve as a model for the community to pick up education as their goal Curriculum includes providing basic reading,writing and other motor skills, dance and drams, environmental care We are supporting the operation of these centers for three years starting in 2000. Contact Reshma - rmadhusudan@yahoo.com for more details Aralu – Rehabilitation and Day Care Centers

28. 28 Location - Usrapatti, Benipur, Varanasi Organization started in 1994 Now striving to serve a cluster of 7 villages near Varanasi with education centers, Youth programs and Mahila Sanghas The evening education centers serve the children who work as embroiders at the banarasi silk sari cottage industries. We are supporting infrastructure costs and teacher salaries. The organization is making inroads towards self sustenance Contact Sonny Khosla - skhosla@prodigy.net for more details Navjyothi Swavalamban Sewa Sansthan

29. 29 Highly committed Volunteers From Asha-Mirror Survey of Asha10 Attendees, ~80 respondents Take time out of busy lifestyles Work Family Personal/ hobbies Take their responsibility seriously Projects Fundraising Etc.

30. 30 Stay informed of Asha Chicago’s activities and events. Join the ashachicago group at groups.yahoo.com/ashachicago/join Want to help out with Asha Chicago’s Projects or Events? Join at: groups.yahoo.com/ashachicago_projects/join and/or Join at: groups.yahoo.com/ashachicago_events/join Attend our monthly meetings volunteer at your own pace - whenever and wherever you can keep a look out for functions, artists who may be willing to participate for Asha Starting point

31. 31 Asha Wide participation Stay up-to-date in world-wide Asha activities - Visit http://www.ashanet.org/mailing-lists.html Participate and volunteer for Asha wide activities - Work-an-hour: Donate one hour of your salary for Education Raise awareness of Asha. Help us market Asha merchandise Talented in graphics or typesetting? Help out in Calendar Preparation/web development Want to be personally involved in a project? Become an Asha Star Asha in India - The next time you visit India, stop by our projects or our chapters all over India like Bombay, Chennai, Delhi, Lucknow, Bangalore etc.

32. 32 Raising Awareness... Presentations to Corporations and Universities Participation in India Day Parade Newsletters Distribution of fliers at events Word-of-mouth

33. 33 Raising Funds... Concerts Events (Asha fest, Work-an-Hour, Hari Prasad Chaurasia Concert) Writing grants for corporate funding Asha Stars (Project supported by direct financial contribution from individuals) Individual and corporate tax-exempt donations Sale of merchandise - T-shirts, Asha diyas, greeting cards etc.

34. 34 Asha for Education Chicago Chapter P.O. Box 957942 Hoffman Estates, IL 60195 www.ashanet.org/chicago Kaushik (847) 303 9051 Rajeev (847) 279-1606 Prasanna (847) 303-1707 All donations to Asha for Education are tax deductible under IRS code 501 (c ) 3. Contact