© Asha for Education, FOR EDUCATION

© Asha for Education, Poverty Lack of Education Child Labor Lack of education directly or indirectly contributes to –Exploitation –Child labor –Population growth –Poverty –Unemployment –Health and hygiene problems The Vicious Cycle

© Asha for Education, Staggering Statistics Govt. of India’s aim was to achieve total literacy by Adults (1995)* –Illiteracy rate:Male %Female % Children aged 6-10 years (1995) –Total number of children:106 million –Number not attending school:28 million –Child laborers:24-26 million –Drop-out rate: Boys - 32% Girls - 46% * Source: United Nations Development Program Every second illiterate person in the world is in India!

© Asha for Education, Asha For Education Formed in summer of 1991 at the University of California at Berkeley by 4 students. Education is a critical requisite and effective catalyst for socio-economic change. “Asha” represents the hope that they sought to bring into the lives of underprivileged children in India.

© Asha for Education, Where is Asha today? Today Asha for Education is an action group with more than 35 chapters worldwide and over 300 active volunteers. Asha’s Mission Statement To catalyze socio-economic change in India by focusing on basic education of underprivileged children in India.

© Asha for Education, What does Asha do? Support educational projects run by NGOs or individuals –Since inception, Asha has supported 81 different projects in India with a total of $470,000. Strive to balance personal involvement in projects with financial support. Foster the spirit of volunteerism. –No paid members, everyone is a volunteer. All administrative expenses are borne by volunteers. –100% of donations go directly towards projects. Work in collaboration with organizations in the US and India, learn from each other and build a strong network. Develop a think-tank that addresses the problem of illiteracy in India.

© Asha for Education, Asha-Princeton Started in August 1998 Approximately 20 volunteers –students from Princeton Univ and people from nearby areas. Aim is to mobilize the local Indian community to collectively support grassroots level educational movements in India. Activities –Project identification, evaluation, site-visits and monitoring. –Organize guest lectures and discussions –Poster/exhibit presentations at local events Newsletter, project posters, Asha merchandize –Organize events for fundraising and awareness generation

© Asha for Education, Project Life Cycle Project Identification –Sending preliminary questionnaire –Iterations between project coordinator and NGO Project Evaluation –Analysis of project goals, proposal, mission, overall credibility, account statements. Project Site-Visit –Visit by Asha member or liaison Project Re-evaluation –Review of project based on site-visit. Final decision. Project Monitoring –Reports including accounts and progress, follow-up visits, photos etc.

© Asha for Education, Current Projects at Asha-Princeton PACHE - Night School for Illiterate and Drop-out children –10 villages, Madurai Dist., Tamil Nadu –high incidence of child labor and school dropout –vocational training in electricity, basket weaving, plumbing FODRA: Remedial and Nonformal Education –Pratap Nagar & Samboli Gadda - poor slum areas of east Delhi –minimize drop-out rates –prepare children not attending school for formal education

© Asha for Education, Current Projects at Asha-Princeton Vasundhara - Science on Wheels –Sindhudurg Dist., Maharashtra –Demonstrate scientific basis for day-to-day phenomena –Generate awareness in personal health & hygiene, environment & ecology Learn Together Teach Other –Khajurdaha, West Bengal –Basic education for illiterate children and school drop-outs in age-group 5-14

© Asha for Education, Nalamdana Nalamdana: Educational Program for Urban Slums –Chennai, Tamil Nadu –Children supported through tution scholarship –Targets students who demonstrate academic ability, leadership and commitment to social change J. Dhanalakshmi, Class 11. "My oldest sister did not finish school so my father will have to pay a big dowry to see that she is married well. I have the highest marks in my class but we have to take many loans if I have to finish school…. I want to contribute to my family income and I want to help stop the system of dowry." Update: J.Dhanalakshmi was selected as a Nalamdana scholar and topped her class in her first year of college, studying computer science.

© Asha for Education, From here To here How YOU Can Help

© Asha for Education, Get Involved... Become a volunteer Become a donor Donations to Asha are tax deductible under IRS code 501© 3. Use your skills to make direct contributions Software development, language skills, awareness generation Initiate company matching contribution programs. Participate, sponsor or help organise Asha fundraising and awareness-generating events. Recommend good projects that you know of. Refer other like minded individuals and corporations. Buy Asha merchandize and souvenirs.

© Asha for Education, The Asha Stars Program Asha stars are individuals who, in addition to providing long-term financial support, become directly involved with a project. –Key operatives are commitment, involvement and ownership. –Helps project establish itself and grow towards self-sustenance –Asha-stars bring in commitment from others. Princeton Chapter Asha stars –support PACHE, Nalamdana and Khajurdaha projects.

© Asha for Education, Hope for the Future Today children are India’s future citizens and leaders. Asha for Education is a step towards securing a healthy and progressive future.

© Asha for Education, Asha for Education, P.O. Box 1287, Princeton, NJ On the Web: Ph:(908) or (856) All donations to Asha for Education are tax deductible under IRS code 501© 3. Join us in our efforts and be part of the solution...