Indus Conference 95b

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

Literacy Rates Worldwide

Source: UNICEF 1999

Indus Conference 95b

Where Does India Stand?

Source: Calculated from census data

8

6.4 6.1

3.8

2.9

1.8

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Sri Lanka China India

Male

Female

73%

45%

0%

50%

100%

Urban Areas Rural Areas

Disparity in literacy

62%

30%

11% 7% 9%3%

0%

50%

100%

Literate Below Class 5 Beyond Class 10

Male Female

45%

The Vicious CycleThe Vicious CycleLack of

EducationLack of

Education

DependenceDependence

PovertyPoverty

Can we do something……to make a DIFFERENCE ?

Can we do something……to make a DIFFERENCE ?

HOW?HOW?

“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

Beginning in Berkeley , 1991 - toBeginning in Berkeley , 1991 - toOver 400 active volunteers in over 40 chaptersOver 400 active volunteers in over 40 chapters

•At most major universities•At most large metro•Satellite Chapters paired with mentor chapters

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

MISSION STATEMENT

Funds Raised - Over $ 1.5 Million in 10 years

Raised

Disbursed

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

Over $1 million raised in 2000

Funds Disbursed

Raising Funds and Awareness

Individual Donations

Asha Merchandise

Individual Donations

Asha Merchandise

Year Funds collected

Projects funded

1998 31,000 3

1999 54,000 4

2000 84,000 6

8 weeks1404 donors

$102,000 pledged5 projects

History

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:

– Honolulu, Silicon Valley & Royal Victoria (Canada)

• 2002 Marathons:

– Maui & Silicon Valley Marathons

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."

Silicon Valley MarathonOctober 28, 2001(Cisco Way, San Jose) Mile 8 of 26.2 miles !!

Runners’ Age :

22 – 62 years old

First time Runners :

More than 50 %

Asha EventsStanford - Holi

•A Fun Cultural Event – First organized 4 years ago

– Attended by 200 people

•In 2001 – Attended by 1100 people

– Raised $12,000

Asha Stanford

•We invite you to celebrate Holi tomorrow– Stanford Wilbur Field at 11:00 am

Our Work

•Asha Projects: • Urban/Rural• Street Children• Sexually exploited children• Tribal Population• Migrant Laborers

• Asha Stars

• Asha Centers

• Asha Fellowship

• Legislative Awareness• 83rd Amendment• NCERT curriculum• FCRA Regulations

Our Work

BCT- Bhagavatula Charitable Trust• Vishakapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh for last 30 yrs

• Led by Dr. Parameshawar Rao

• Integrated rural development in 3 mandals

• To achieve Universal Elementary Education (UEE) in the three mandals

• Currently– 103 full day non-formal education centers – Each with a maximum strength of 50

children and 2 teachers – 5000 children, 10% in classes V – VII

• The Future– Target to become 300 centers and 15000

children in 5 years.– Need help from outside agencies like Asha to

build this scalable model

BCT- Bhagavatula Charitable Trust

A Scalable Model• After 30 yrs, BCT has a scalable model that it wants to replicate to reach as many communities as possible

–Stage wise education curriculum

–Central Administration for training and leadership

–Involvement of villagers

•5 yrs

• Lalpur, district Hardoi UP

• An experiment in education

• Objectives:– Inculcate human values for a just

human order, – Impart skills which will help an

individual become self-reliant when he/she grows up.

• Free education and health facilities to the villagers

Asha Center

• A workshop on alternative energy

• Beekeeping

• Innovative building technology

• Health camps

• A community development center

Asha Center Activities

Asha and Prof. Jhunjhunwala’s Initiative

Wireless Local Loop

• Objectives and Goals

Use technology to connect rural India, in particular Asha projects so that the experiences and knowledge from one project can be leveraged at other sites.

• Technology

corDECT provides cost-effective, simultaneous high-quality voice and data connectivity in both urban and rural areas.This revolutionary new technology provides voice communication using 32 Kbps ADPCM, and Internet connectivity at 35/70 Kbps.

- 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

Pilot Project in Chennai

Replicable Scalable Enables wealth creation Brings government-citizen-business access points closer

Ongoing Asha Stars Projects34 Projects

Covering 10 Zones

13 Chapters

• 100% Volunteer-based

• Minimal Hierarchy

• Non-political, non-religious

• Zero overhead

• Credibility is the focus

Guiding Principles

Less of this …

Our Hearts, Their Minds, One Hope

MORE of this …

Asha for Education

www.ashanet.org/

pr@ashanet.org

All donations to Asha for Education are tax deductible under IRS code 501 (c ) 3.