2. 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

3. Indus Conference 95b Literacy Rates Worldwide Source: UNICEF 1999

4. Indus Conference 95b Where Does India Stand? Source: Calculated from census data

5. Disparity in literacy 62% 30% 11% 7% 9% 3% 0% 50% 100% LiterateBelow Class 5Beyond Class 10 MaleFemale 45%

6. The Vicious Cycle Lack of Education Lack of Education Dependence Poverty

7. Can we do something… …to make a DIFFERENCE ? Can we do something… …to make a DIFFERENCE ? HOW?

8. “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 - to Over 400 active volunteers in over 40 chapters At most major universities At most large metros Satellite Chapters paired with mentor chapters Co-founded by Sandeep Pandey, 2002 Magsaysay Award winner

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

10. Funds Raised- Over $ 1.5 Million in 10 years Raised Disbursed 0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000 1991 1992 199319941995199619971998 1999 2000 Over $1 million raised in 2000 Funds Disbursed

11. Raising Funds and Awareness Individual Donations Asha Merchandise Individual Donations Asha Merchandise

12. YearFunds collected Projects funded 199831,0003 199954,0004 200084,0006 8 weeks 1404 donors $100,000 pledged 5 projects History

13. 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: – New York City Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon – Honolulu, Silicon Valley & Royal Victoria (Canada) Asha-MIT/Boston, 2003 – Cape Cod Marathon, Falmouth, MA, October 26 th – Marine Corps Marathon, Washington DC, October 26th

14. 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 Marathon October 28, 2001 (Cisco Way, San Jose) Mile 8 of 26.2 miles !! Runners’ Age : 22 – 62 years old First time Runners : More than 50 %

15. 100% Volunteer-based Minimal Hierarchy Non-political, non-religious Credibility is the focus Guiding Principles

16. Our Work Asha Projects: Urban/Rural Street Children Sexually exploited children Tribal Population Migrant Laborers Networking amongst groups Asha Stars

17. Legislative Awareness 83rd Amendment NCERT curriculum FCRA Regulations Transfer of material Books Computers Software Our Work

18. Especially vulnerable children Children on the Streets : VOICE: classes on Mumbai’s railway platforms Gradual transition to formal schools Savings, leadership skills, alternative livelihood Commercial Sex-Workers –Abuse by customers –Society stigma – no alternative livelihood –TRY, Chennai – a home for children from red light districts Striking at the root –Community run school in Natpurwa, UP –Alternative livelihood – tailoring, bee- keeping

19. Tutorial Classes / Study Centers Sahanivasa, Chittoor Dt, AP Tuition classes for high school students, help to pass class X Focus on dalit students Tremendous improvement in pass rates since Asha’s involvement SEED, Madurai slums, TN Study center with lights, books Volunteer tutors, youth from slums Spoken English classes Help and support for specific goals: IAS, teachers, engineers, doctors

20. Viveka Asha Yojane: Improving Govt. Schools A Scalable Model Government of Karnataka, Adopt-a-school program Adopted 72 schools in Chamarajanagar district Teacher training, making SDMC (parent-teacher- community) committees functioning, improve infrastructure Liason with government schemes such as Sarva Siksha Abhiyan Make the Government Do its Job !!!

21. n-logue: Wireless local loop - with Prof. Jhunjhunwalla, IIT Madras - 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 Technology and Development Replicable Scalable Enables wealth creation Brings government-citizen-business access points closer Work with World Computer Exchange (shipping computers)

22. Community based: the people should lead the change Focus on empowerment: women, disabled, lower rungs of society All-inclusive – no child is left out Non-sectarian, respect and support pluralism Constructive socio-economic development and peaceful means of change Guiding Principles in Projects

23. Ongoing Asha Stars Projects 34 Projects Covering 10 Zones 13 Chapters

24. What can you do? Corporate grants in your company Help with your specific expertise Help with contacts (media, govt. officials) Help with signature campaigns Publicity for our events

25. Less of this … Our Hearts, Their Minds, One Hope MORE of this …

26. Asha for Education www.ashanet.org/mit asha-request@mit.edu All donations to Asha for Education are tax deductible under IRS code 501 (c ) 3.