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Asha For Education – Cornell Chapter

Asha For Education – Cornell Chapter. The Cornell chapter of Asha came into existence in 1994. Currently supported by mainly the undergraduate and graduate students of Cornell. Five projects are supported at present via two main fundraising events concert and spring dinner.

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Asha For Education – Cornell Chapter

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  1. Asha For Education – Cornell Chapter • The Cornell chapter of Asha came into existence in 1994. • Currently supported by mainly the undergraduate and graduate students of Cornell. • Five projects are supported at present via two main fundraising events concert and spring dinner. • Additionally contribute to the local Ithaca Community via participation in local events.

  2. Current Projects • BTS- Baikunthapur Tarun Sangha Location – Sunderban area, West Bengal • ISW – Institute Of Social Work Primary Education Location – Kolkata, West Bengal • Jeevan Gnanodaya Location – Chengalputtu, Tamil Nadu • Kaingkarya Location – Thirusolaam, Tamil Nadu • Langarberia School Location – Baruipur, West Bengal

  3. BTS- Baikunthapur Tarun SanghaChapter Association – Cornell, Washington DC, St. Louis • BTS Patha Bhawan – Estd. in 1983 with support from a Lutheran World Service. Asha Cornell is supporting BTS since 2002. • Located in the island of Kultali in the southern part of Sunderbans in West Bengal. • Main focus Areas- 45% Community Development, 40% Education & 15% Health in the Kultali area. • Occupation - Landless laborers, Fisherman, Wood collectors from the Sunderban region.

  4. Activities Of BTS • BTS Hospital • BTS Patha Bhawan School • Computer Literacy Program • Small scale fish and shrimp cultivation

  5. Challenges in BTS • Electricity :- • Area lacks electric supply since it is remotely located. • It will be years if they ever see conventional electricity. • BTS plans to arrange solar powered lights in critical places e.g. school building, certain village areas. • Requested WAH2008 to fund this Solar initiative. • Self-sustainability :- This is a problem as usual, and the school needs to work out ways as their costs seem to be rising each year, due to addition of more classes and admitting more students.

  6. Construction of School Building, 2005 New School Building, 2006 The new school building was built with WAH 2005 fund New Classroom, 2006

  7. ISW-Institute Of Social Work Primary Education ProjectChapter Association - Cornell • Estd. in 1978 in the heart of the slums in Kolkata’s dock area at Kidderpore, West Bengal • 3 main sections – • A tailoring school for girls, • Coaching center for girls of classes 1 to 12 • Center for children who are not admitted to schools or are school drop outs. • 2nd school in Barasat, Kolkata -- Helps the Government school dropouts to get back to the mainstream education. • Asha Cornell is actively funding ISW since 2000.

  8. Challenges of ISW • Very difficult to work in these slums of Kolkata due to constant communal tensions. • Region houses a widely neglected section of the society where socio-economic reforms happen slowly or hardly happen !!! • School drop-outs are a major concern. • Health and sanitation condition are very poor. Most children work in highly unhygienic and hazardous conditions in the dock. • Child marriage is prevalent along with trafficking. Law and order is at its worst in these sections of the city (mainly Kidderpore, which being a dock region, is notorious for its crimes)

  9. KaingkaryaChapter Association - Cornell • Kaingkarya is a social welfare organization located in the Thirusoolam area near Chennai, Tamil Nadu. • The chapter is funded by Cornell since 2001. • It is a brick making (quarry) zone and the population mainly consists of migrant laborers from Tamil Nadu. • Three main programs that the school runs are (1) Creche for small children (2) A tuition program for children attending the local government schools (3) A year long remedial education program for children who are school drop-outs.

  10. Kaingkarya Entrance to the school Classroom Jan 2008 Site visit

  11. Activities Of Kaingkarya • Other than education, the organization puts considerable stress on health and community development activities. • Possesses a dedicated health clinic with an examination room and a separate room with beds for patients. Medicines are also available at a subsidized cost to patients. • Provides vocational training in nursing and computer applications. • Occasionally conducts counseling sessions for mothers on health childcare and other social issues.

  12. Challenges in Kaingkarya • Rehabilitating school drop outs and child workers into the formal education system. • Close location of the quarry area makes the region extremely dusty.  Villagers are prone to respiratory and eye problems. • Hence it is vital for them to support and maintain the clinic that serves the health and hygiene of the local population.

  13. Fundraising Events of Asha Cornell • Asha Spring Dinner – • Indian Dinner organized every April attended by about 300 people. • Generated funds = $4-5k (100% is utilized for Project funding). • Organizing cost is generated from Cornell University Student Assembly Finance Commission. • Musical Concert – • Indian Musical Concert organized during Fall semester • Performers include- Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Pt. Hariprashad Chaurasia • Upcoming group – Penn Masala (Sept. 2008) • Generated funds = $10-15k • Work-An-Hour – Small student chapters like Cornell heavily depend upon this global campaign to generate funds for projects with big budgets.

  14. Problems and Challenges Of Cornell Chapter • Minimal volunteer strength – -- No. of volunteers officially listed under Asha For Education for the Cornell chapter is 200. -- Unfortunately most of them provide only moral and occasional financial support -- Currently only 10-15 active members are working for Asha’s daily activities. --The minimal volunteer strength is the major concern in Cornell chapter. 2. Mobile Population- Since it is an University chapter hence the population is primarily mobile. It is very difficult to get constant donor pool or constant long-time volunteers.

  15. Problems and Challenges Of Cornell Chapter • Yearly Board Transition– Because of floating population, every year there is a new board. -- Leads to data loss and miscommunications about several issues during this transition phase. 4. Accountability – Voluneteer accountability & responsibilities are significantly dropped in summer months and during graduation seasons. 5. Inexperience - Lack of understanding for larger issues at hand about the actual state of poverty, health, and education in India.

  16. Problems and Challenges Of Cornell Chapter • Administrative Problems -- Overall lack of well organized administrative work from proper treasury accounting, project follow-up, communications between projects in India and chapter project 7.Mentality and Willingness to Join Asha for Education -- Major issue for Asha Cornell at present. -- # of Indian students (Undergraduate & Graduate programs) = 700-800. -- Yet, only 15-20 are working actively with Asha. This is really an alarming situation !!! How do we recruit and sustain more students towards Asha ?

  17. Acknowledgements Volunteers and Project Stewards of Asha Cornell Tanushee Ghosh Ashis Dhall Mekhala Krishnan Chetan Sarabu Bikramjit Das Anushree Ray Amrita Hazra

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