2017 annual report, san francisco chapter

2017AnnualReport,SanFranciscoChapter

AshaforEducationisafullyvolunteer-run501(c)(3)non-profitwith50+chaptersaroundtheworldwhosemissionistocatalyzesocio-economicchangeinIndiathroughtheeducationofunderprivilegedchildren.

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TableofContentsAboutAsha ….....................................................................................................................................................3Year2017Review …...........…..............................................................................................................................4

2017ProjectsSummary…..................................................................................................................................52017EventsSummary….....................................................................................................................................122017FinancialSummary….................................................................................................................................14

Acknowledgements….........................................................................................................................................15RequestforVolunteers......................................................................................................................................16MeettheTeam…................................................................................................................................................17

We help where it counts 2

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AboutAsha

AshaForEducationisasecularnon-profitorganizationcatalyzingsocio-economicchangethroughtheeducationofunderprivilegedchildreninIndia.Ourmissionisnotonlytolookatissuesconcerningaccesstoeducation,butalsotoensurethateverychildhasaccesstoaneducationthatismeaningful.

AshaforEducationisafullyvolunteer-run501(c)(3)non-profit,with50+chaptersaroundtheworld,whosemissionistocatalyzesocio-economicchangeinIndiathroughtheeducationofunderprivilegedchildren.

Weareasmallteamof30-40volunteersattheSanFranciscoChapter.WeareconstantlymotivatedbyAsha’smissionandworktogethertomeetouryearlygoalsasapartofAshatohelpmakeadifferenceinchildrens’livesinruralIndia.GetinvolvedwiththeSanFranciscoChapterbyvolunteeringwithus.Pleasevisitpage15tofindoutmoredetailsabouthowyoucangetinvolved.

Theyear2017hasbeenawonderfulyearforAshaForEducation,SanFranciscoChapter.Wefunded10projects,disbursingatotalof$139,000,whichwillsupportover3400childrenandstudents.Wehavemaintainedaperfectscoreof100onCharityNavigator,thehighestratinganynonprofitcanget.WehavealsomaintainedagoodWorkingCapitalRation(WCR)of1.00bytheyearendbyefficientlydistributingfundstoprojects,whichmakesuseligibleforthegeneralfundsdistributedbyAshaCentral.Wehadalargenumberofnewandrepeatvolunteers.Weappreciateeveryonewhosupportedusinthiscause.Yearafteryearwehavebeenseeingtheimpactofourworkinchildren’slivesandthereisnogreaterfeelingofhappiness.

Weraisedover$65,000fromTeamAshaSF,ourhalfmarathontrainingprogram,inwhich100%oftherunnersmettheirfundraisinggoal.Wealsoraisedarecordbreakingamountofover$25,000fromSFHoliandothereventsincludingDiwaliMela.Everyyear,wecontinuetoattractvolunteerssupportingAshaSFChapterinvariouscapacities,includingevents,running,projectreviewsandprojectstewards.

Alltheseachievementshappenedduetothecommitmentandeffortsputbyourawesomevolunteersanddonorswhodeeplycareaboutthecause.Thiswouldnothavebeenpossiblewithouttheduediligencecarriedoutbyourprojectstewards,theSFcoreteamwhohasactivelyparticipatedinvariousactivitiesthroughouttheyear,andnottomentionTeamAsharunnersandcoaches.Wehopetocontinueoureffortsin2018toimpactmanymorechildren’slives.

Sincerely,AshaForEducation,SanFranciscoChapter

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Year2017inReview

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2017 Projects Summary

Society for Women in Rural Development (SWIRD)Where: Purba Medinipur, Medinipur District West BengalChildren Served: 400 (Ages 3-5)Funded: $85,850 (since Sept 2009) by San Francisco Chapter

A social development NGO working for the last 17 years, run by womenespecially house-wives who are aware of the distressful situation of women inrural families living below poverty line, to uplift the quality of lives of thedowntrodden women and children in remote rural belt of Eastern part of India.Among various projects, SWIRD is running 10 pre-primary schools (BalwadiCenters) to support elementary education for the poor children. Due tofinancial constraints, they face a lot of difficulties to run those schools. In 1990,many poor families could not arrange even one meal for the members of theirfamily and helpless mothers and kids would starve. One day, a mothercommitted suicide as she could not arrange food for her children for someconsecutive days. A leading NGO, viz. Nabarun Seva Niketan facilitated somecommunity leaders to sit together and discuss about their duties to uplift thecondition of the families especially by women themselves. This meeting gave aformation of a group which now runs as an NGO SWIRD.

1. Society for Women in Rural Development (SWIRD)

ProjectSteward:JenniferFernandes55

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Where: Madurai, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu

Children served: 300 (Ages 5 - 16)Funded: $48,812 since Feb 2010 by San Francisco Chapter

Pneuma (Professional Network for the Emancipation of the Under-Privileged

Masses) Trust, is an organization that was created in 2003 with the aims to provide

education, social, legal awareness and health services to children whose parents are

affected by HIV/AIDS among the poor. Children of HIV/AIDS infected parents were

suffering from a lack of proper educational facilities and parental guidance, and

they are also exposed to illegal activities & are at risk of being forced into sex

trafficking. Pneuma started a home for such children to provide food, clothing &

shelter free of cost. The children are also sent to schools to continue regular

education, and are given non formal education at the home. They are mostly

orphans and semi-orphans of HIV/AIDS infected parents. Currently they only house

boys and do not have the resources to accommodate girls. Many children housed in

Pneuma are from rural areas of Madurai and nearby districts namely, Theni,

Sivaganangai and Thirunelveli, whose parents came to Madurai for treatment.

2. PNEUMA (Professional Network for the Emancipation of the Under-privileged masses)

ProjectSteward:Shishira Nagesh6

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Where:SouthDistrict, NewDelhiChildrenserved:120Funded:$126,321sinceAug2011bySanFranciscoChapter

Wehavefunded2projectsforEtasha in2017.

ProjectPrerna isEtasha’s vocationalandemployabilityskillstrainingprogram

servingyouthfromimpoverishedcoloniesinNewDelhi,India.Itteaches

relevantemployabilityskillsandtrainingtotheyouthtoultimatelygetthem

sustainableandrespectableemploymentintheprivatesector.Theyinitiativeto

providevocationalskillsandspokenenglish trainingtoyouthfrom

impoverishedcoloniesinNewDelhi,India.Theyadoptpractical,experiential,

hands-ontrainingmethodsintheirprograms.

ProjectManzil isEtasha’s counselingservicesprogram,especiallyinschools

cateringtolowincomecommunitiesandslumsinneighborhoodareasofDelhi.

Counselingsessionsincludelifeskillsworkshops,careerguidance,teachers

orientationworkshopstounderstandissues,presentationsforparentstogive

themoverviewaboutimportanceofcounseling,andindividualcounseling

sessionsforstudents.Theycover10schoolsforcounseling.

3. Etasha Society

ProjectSteward:Namita Gujral

ProjectSteward:SindhuKashyap77

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Where:Kolkata,KolkataDistrict,WestBengalChildrenserved:200Funded:$111,553.38sinceApr2000,$75881bySanFranciscoChapter

ISWisaninitiativetoprovidebetteropportunitiestounderprivilegedwomenandchildrenintheslumsofKolkata’sdockarea.ISWhasbeenrunningeducationalcentersbyencouragingandinspiringunderprivilegedchildrenbyadoptingnon-formalandinnovativeapproaches.Wehavefunded2projectsforISWin2017.ProjectKidderpore has3mainsections:tailoringschoolforgirls,acoachingcenterforgirlsofclasses1to12,acenterforchildrenwhohavenotyetbeenadmittedtoschoolorareschooldropouts.ProjectChella hasafocusonsolvingfortheinequalityofthedeprivedsectionsofthesociety,withspecialfocusonwomenandchildren.Apartfromeducation,theyalsorunawarenessdrives,legalhelpandprotectionfromdomesticviolence,healthcheckups,culturalactivities,etc.ISWisplayingatrulycommendableroleinrunningthesecentersandalltheteachersinthetrainingcentersareextremelymotivatedandadmirablytrained.

4. Institute of Social Work (ISW)

ProjectSteward:NitinKempanahalli

ProjectSteward: Sriparna Majumdar 8

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Where:Igatpuri,NashikDistrictMaharashtraChildrenserved:200Funded:$69,952sinceJune2007bySanFranciscoChapter

Aseema isaninitiativetoprovideaholisticeducation,aninterestingandcaringlearningenvironment,andhelpunderservedchildrenoftribalpeopleacquiretheskillsandconfidencetosucceedinreallife. Thiseducationcenterwillworkwithtribalchildrenwhocurrentlyhavelittleornoaccesstoschools.Aseemacoverseverythingfrombasicliteracytoanalyticalandemotionalskills,physicalwell-beingandvocationaltrainingforthechildrenwhoarefromverypoorfamilies,manyofwhoseparentsaremigrantlaboreres,andmostlyeatonesquaremealaday.Theschoolservesabout200childrenofallages.Aseemaconductsmedicalcampsforeyes,dentalandgeneralhealthexamination.Teachertrainingprogrammes,teachingaidsandeducationalmaterialarebeingprovided.Schooluniformsandanutrious mid-daymealisalsoprovided.Inordertointegrateeducationandruraldevelopment,Aseema isgoingtobuildarainwaterharvestingpondtohelpdeveloptheareaagriculturally.

5. Aseema Charitable Trust

ProjectSteward:Vidya Kudlingar9


Wbere:Daltonganj,Palamu District Jharkhand

Childrenserved:37Funded:$23,524sinceJun2014

Saugaht Foundationisaninitiativethataimstoworkforthe empowermentof

localtribalpopulationtoensurethattheycanbecomeself-dependentand

achievephysical,mentalandsocialwell-being.Sinceinception,Saugaht has

beenengagedinsocialdevelopmentforthepoorandmarginalizedtribal

community,particularlyforthewomen,childrenandyouthworkingin

education,healthcare,livelihood,environmentandsoonbytouchingallthe

vitalaspectsofhumanlife.Presentlyitisworkinginvariousfieldsofhealth,

familywelfare,watersanitation,agriculture,SHGformationandwomen

empowerment,Tribal-welfare,variouscommunitydevelopmentprogram,

environmentalprotection,socioeconomicdevelopment,awarenessgeneration

onvariousburningissues.Theyhaveaneducationalcenterforeducation

includingbasicliteracyoftribalchildren.Thisprogramservestoprovidethese

childrenasteppingstoneofeducationbyamandatoryschoolinginthepre-

primarylevelandpreparethemforadmissionintheprimarylevelformal

schools.

7. Saugaht Foundation

ProjectSteward:AbhishekAggarwal1010

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Where:Patharpratima,SouthTwentyFourParganas District WestBengalChildrenserved:90(Ages3-6)Funded:$79,267sinceMay2014

Digambarpur isaninitiativerunbyagroupofdedicatedsocialactivistsofSundarban regionwithaviewtoundertakereliefandrehabilitationaswellasdevelopmentinitiativesforempowermentofwomenandchildrenandothervulnerablesectionsofsocio-economicallybackwardSC/ST/OBC/Minoritycommunities.Sinceinception,theorganizationhasbeeninvolvedintheruraldevelopmentandsocialactionprogrammes forestablishingwomenandchildrights,education,healthandsanitation,livelihooddevelopmentandenvironmentconservationintheSundarban region.Digambarpur aimstoreachouttothepoorestandunderprivilegedsectionofthesocietyforselfreliance,toprovideongoingsupportthroughefficientandreadilyavailablemanagementinformationsystem,toempowermarginalizedcommunities,disabled,olderpersonsthroughsocialandeconomicdevelopment,tocreatestrongawarenessamonglocalpeopletosolveproblems,toemphasizeonwomenandchildrenempowermentbyestablishingtheirrights,andtostopdiscriminatingbasedoncaste,creed,sex,clanandcolor

8. Digambarpur Angikar

ProjectSteward:Megha Sharma1111

2017 Events SummarySF Holi, the Indian festival of colors, was conducted onApril 1st 2017 by Asha For Education San Francisco,partnering with CCA SF. TheticketswereSOLDOUT

wellbeforetheevent.Weraisedarecordbreaking$20,000justthrough thisevent.Theturnout, theweatherandthereviewspostHoliweregreat.Wereceivedgreathelpfromourawesomevolunteersandcoreteammembers

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Diwali Night, an annual Fall event, was organized inOctober 2017, in partnership with CCA. We had over 30volunteers who had put a constant effort over a 2 monthperiod. Ticket prices included food catered from Kasa. Althoughwe did not raise significant amount of funds through the event,it opened up a great partnership opportunity with CCA SF forfuture events, and it createdawareness about Asha.

2017 Events Summary

TeamAsha2017,SanFrancisco13

Team Asha, the 9th annual half marathon trainingprogram was a grand success like every year. Therewere 51 registered runners, of which 38 runnersrecommitted and most of them successfully completedthe San Francisco (or other) Half marathons in 2017.The 4 month long training program under the guidanceof Coach Balu Vellanki and Coach Sunaad Natarajustarted with short runs under 1 mile, slowly progressingto long weekend runs ending in San Francisco halfmarathon in July. The runners had to raise a minimumof $1500 (before eligible discounts) and all the moneyraised went to the projects supported by Asha SFChapter. This year, a total of over $65000 was raisedincluding company matching A lot of repeat runners andfirst time runners stayed with Asha throughout the yearto help out with events and activities. The program hasbeen growing over the years and its success isattributed to the amazing coaches and volunteers whocontinue to keep up the spirit of Asha and Team Asha.

2017 Financial Summary

13%

42%

44%

1%

TotalIncomein2017

HoliGFSplitTeamAshaOther

46%

9%9%

27%

9%

Projecttype2017

Primaryeducation

Pre-primaryeducation

Counselling services

Afterschool, vocationaltrainingMiddleschooleducation,tribalareas

24%

6%

7%

7%6%12%

7%

3%

5%

14%

9%

2017Projectsdisbursal($139K)

DigambarpurAngikar- preprimaryeducation

ISW- Khiddarpore

ISW- Barasat

ISW- Chella

SaugahtFoundation- EducationalCenter

EtashaSociety

PnuemaTrust- Tuition

PneumaTrust- Health

AseemaCharitableTrust- RuralEducationCentreinAwalhkedaVillage

EtashaSociety

SocietyforWomeninRuralDevelopment

WCR:1.0

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Acknowledgements

Thisyear,AshaSanFranciscowasfilledwithawiderangeofactivities.Wehavebeensuccessfulindisbursingmoneyto10differentprojectsaswellasinraisingmoneythroughourDiwaliNight,HoliandTeamAshaevents.

Manyexistingandnewvolunteershavetakenupkeyresponsibilitiesinthechapterandwiththeircontinuedeffortovertheperiodofoneyear,theycontributedsignificantlytowardsAshagoals.Wereallyappreciatevolunteerssteppinguptotakeonroles.Whileweallworkedtowardsthecommongoalofunderprivilegedchildrens’education,wecontinuedtolearnfromeachotherandgrewasateam.Wealsobondedwitheachotherovertimeandhavemadethegreatestfriendships.

Wesincerelythanktheindividualdonors,employersofthedonorswhohavematchedfunds,restaurantsponsorsandmanyothervendorswhohavesupportedAshabydonatingagoodportionoftheirprofitstoAshaevents.

Amajorityofthefundsraised,asyoumayhavenoticedinthefinancialsummary,havecomefromtherunnersofTeamAshaprogramwhohaveworkedsohardoveraperiodof4monthsandraisedmoneyforthiswonderfulcause.Withoutthemthiswouldnothavebeenpossible.Wehopetoattractnewrunnerseveryyearwhileretainingtherepeatrunners.

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Request for Volunteers

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Wearealwayslookingforvolunteersandassureyouthatyoursupportandvolunteeringwillindirectlyordirectlyimpactchildren’slivesinapositiveway.

Wehaveseveralopportunitiesforvolunteerstogetinvolved,andyoucanchoosetosupportandhelpoutinwhatevercapacityyoucanbasedonyourinterestsandyourtimeavailability(whetheritisvolunteeringforasingleday,helpingorganizeoneofourevents,orcommittingtosupportusforanhourorsoeverymonthoruptoseveralhoursaweek).Typesofvolunteeringcanvaryandcanincludeprojectreviews,eventvolunteering,eventorganizing,runningahalfmarathon,beingamentor(ifyouarearepeatrunner),writingnewsletterseveryquarterandsoon(thelistcanbeendless).

[email protected]’twishyoujoinbutjustwanttodonate,youcandosohere:https://donate.ashanet.org/

Meet the 2017 team

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Bhargavi

Payal Shishira &Sudeep Anumeha Jennifer

Gouri Chaitanya Rashi Vivek

Sailaja

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2017 annual report, san francisco chapter

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