Asha St. Louis

www.ashanet.org/stlouis

MissionTo catalyze socio-economic change in India through

the education of underprivileged children.

What is Asha ?

The Problem:

• 26% illiterate population (world avg = 16%)

Female – 35% Male – 18%

• India has the largest illiterate population of any nation in the world

• Only 40% of adolescents attend high school, --only 7% graduate

• 15 million illiterate children

• 12.6 million child laborers

Literacy Map 2010, United Nations Human Development

Asha means HOPE

What is Asha ?

Asha’s Solution:• Promote awareness• Identify & Evaluate education projects• Raise funds for them• Monitor their progress and facilitate resources

Asha Strategies:• 100% Volunteerism – no salaries, honorariums, paid memberships or compensation

• Near Zero overheads – even 2.4% credit card fees are paid out of bank interests where possible

If you haven’t heard of Asha, it’s because we spend $0 on marketing, and apply ourselves to work in India

• Non discriminatory & Secular – in both membership and in projects

• Non hierarchical – Collective ownership and decision making

Project Values:• Non political, Secular, No personal benefit• No project funded until Site Visit• Every project has a Project Steward in St. Louis• Annual Audits & Site Visits

Asha St. Louis• 1997 – Began in Washington University

• 52 projects funded to date

• 2012 Disbursed $31k, Raised $38k

• Activity tied to volunteer commitment

• Anyone can volunteer – no cost, no

hierarchy, no bureaucracy

Asha• 1991, UC Berkeley

• 316 Active projects

• $ 20 million disbursed over last 10 years

• ~$ 3 million disbursed in 2010• 86 chapters

(67 in United States, 7 in Europe, 12 in India)

• 1000+ volunteers around the globe

PROSTITUTION

Dalits or Backwards Castes

What does Asha do ?

HIV / Health issues

Social and Civic Skills

Self Sustenance

Community CommitmentVocational Training

Education Policy and lawmakingGender Equality

Rehabilitating Orphans

Child Labor

Basic Education

What does Socio-Economic change mean ?A child should have more choices than his / her parents

Asha concerns itself with the whole gamut of issues that affect children. There are many “basics” that may need to be addressed before education.

Asha St. Louis Projects

[DOOR STEP SCHOOL]*

-(PUNE)

OLCOTT MEMORIAL (CHENNAI)

JAMGHAT(DELHI)

HIPPOCAMPUS (RURAL

KARNATAKA)SEED

(SRI PERUMBUDUR)

[BRIGHT LIFE *] – (RURAL ANDHRA PRADESH)

[THIRUVALLUVAR TAMIL SCHOOL]* – (RURAL TAMIL NADU)

[ASHADEEP]* – (VARANASI)

* = PROJECTS UNDER CONSIDERATION

Asha Impact & Achievements

Pioneered new initiatives in education• Shared resource centers• Education techniques and cyclical education• Community programs and sustainability initiatives• Improving quality & analyzing incentives

Activities beyond funding projects• Policy Level work & Advocacy (non political)• Evaluating government school curriculum• Facilitating collaborations and information sharing

Increasing social awareness & responsibility• Opportunities for leadership and contribution• Awareness of development issues has spurred

a movement of volunteers on a range of social causes, in India and abroad

How does Asha work

A site visit is performed to ensure that the proposal is verified. The findings of the site visit are reviewed by the chapter and the chapter decision is confirmed.

Once funding details and FCRA have been established, funds are released, typically through wire transfer to the project.

The Project Steward remains in contact with the project and monitors their progress and use of the money.

Volunteers visit and check these projects while they are on personal visits to India.

How does Asha work

St. Louis Activities

Asha Fundraisers

Team Asha training program www.runforasha.com

Volunteer with Asha - come to monthly meetings

Join stl-asha@yahoogroups.com - stay informed

“Like” the Asha Facebook Page

Run with Team Asha - team runs every weekend

Visit an Asha Project - while visiting India

Donate to Asha –100% tax deductible

Credit card donation at www.ashanet.org

WORK AN HOUR . org - donate an hour's worth of salary towards Asha

Asha Registry – ask your guests to donate instead of giving gifts

Shop Asha - Asha receives 2% to 8% cash back from participating retailers

Set up a recurring donation / Donate stocks

GET INVOLVED

rated Asha “a slam dunk” charity

Thank you.

“ Sometimes we reach a point in life

when we are thankful for what has been given

us

and the desire to reciprocate takes over.

We wish to help those less fortunate in some

way.”- VJP Srivatsavoy, Asha founder