An action group for
BASIC EDUCATION
in India
ashanet.org/centralnj
100%
India
Literacy
Literacy Rate in India
Rate
50%
0%
1901
1951
ashanet.org/centralnj
2001
THE VICIOUS CYCLE
Lack of
Education
Poverty
Child Labor
ashanet.org/centralnj
SOME LESSER KNOWN FACTS
More that 90% rural parents believe
education is very important for their children
In rural India sending a child to school on a
regular basis requires a great deal of effort
ashanet.org/centralnj
Why Education?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Awareness of Rights
Ability to Exercise Civic Rights
Improved Access to Opportunities
Economic Mobility
Improve Gender Equality
Overall Development
ashanet.org/centralnj
Lack of education - Where does it take a
child?
– Child Exploitation
– Child labor
– Population explosion
– Unsanitary conditions
– Lower standard of living
ashanet.org/centralnj
Can we do something…
…to make a difference?
How?
ashanet.org/centralnj
Our Mission
To catalyze socio-economic change through
education for the underprivileged children in
India
ashanet.org/centralnj
Asha (“Hope”)
Non-profit ZERO overhead
organization
Run entirely by volunteers
Non-political
Non-religious
Volunteers work closely with
education projects
ashanet.org/centralnj
Asha (“Hope”)
Asha works with NGOs in India
◊ Education projects
◊ Women’s issues, health care, environment etc.
Asha members
◊
Provide financial support
◊
Actively involved in projects
Asha is a Non-profit zero overhead organization
ashanet.org/centralnj
Formal schools
TYPES OF PROJECTS
Urban/Rural children
Formal schools
Evening schools
Urban/Rural children
Street children
Evening schools
Vocational training centers
Street children
Sexually exploited
Vocational training centers
Orphanage homes
Support A Child
Tribal population
Orphanage homes
Mobile laboratories
Tribal children
Migrant laborers
Mobile laboratories
Migrant laborers
Support A Child
ashanet.org/centralnj
ashanet.org/centralnj
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
ashanet.org/centralnj
Over 1000 active volunteers in over 40 chapters
Central NJ
ashanet.org/centralnj
CENTRAL NJ CHAPTER
‘Asha’ known and accepted in New Jersey
Continued support from our patrons and wellwishers.
We have committed volunteers from diverse
backgrounds
Immense potential in this region -looking to grow
and expand
ashanet.org/centralnj
ACHIEVEMENTS
Asha Global
Central NJ
•
•
$25,000 net amount raised in 2002
•
SURBAHAAR
Funds Raised
2001 $1.13 M
2000 $1.04 M
•
TV/Radio/Newspaper coverage
1999 $0.70 M
•
Publicity campaign targeted over
10,000 Indians in NJ/NY
•
Very successful event
1998 $0.55 M
•
Over 600 projects supported since
inception in 1991
•
Currently involved with 6 projects
ashanet.org/centralnj
Asha Central NJ Projects
Vasundhara,
Sindhudurg(Maharashtra)
Science on Wheels Project
Guria, Varanasi(UP)
(Children of Women in Prostitution)
Save the Children’s Home
Calcutta
(Girls Orphanage)
Seva Chakkra Orphanage, Chennai
(Orphanage)
Usha Kiran Eye Hospital, (Karnataka)
(Eye Exams and Correctional
Surgeries of School Children)
Rehab Centre for Women
Tiruchirapalli(TN)
(Education/Vocational : Blind Girls
ashanet.org/centralnj
CENTRAL NJ PROJECTS
Save The Children
Home
West Bengal
Guria, Education for
children of
commercial sex
workers
Uttar Pradesh
Seva Chakkra
Orphanage School
Tamil Nadu
ashanet.org/centralnj
Vasundhara,
Science Education
Maharashtra
Sponsor events
Volunteer
YOU and Asha
Publicize
Support a
Project
ashanet.org/centralnj
Our Hearts, Their Minds, One Hope
Less of this …
ashanet.org/centralnj
MORE of this …
Contact Us
• Web: www.ashanet.org/centralnj
• Email: centralnj@ashanet.org
• Postal: Asha For Education P.O Box 285 New
Brunswick, NJ 08903
• Mailing list: asha-cnj@yahoogroups.com
• Pankaj V. Paranjpe: paranjpe@eden.rutgers.edu
732 309 5608
• Ranjini Venkatesan: ranjini.venkatesan@moodys.com
201 647 9141
ashanet.org/centralnj