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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

70 would be unable to read

50 would suffer from malnutrition

1 would be near death; 1 would be near birth

1 (yes, only one) would have a college education

1 would own a computer

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Literacy Rates Worldwide

Source: UNICEF 1999

World South Asia Sub-Saharan Africa

Middle East/ North

Africa

East Asia/ Pacific

Latin America & Caribbean

Baltic Least Deve. Countries

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The Vicious Cycle

Lack ofEducation

Poverty

Child Labor

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Why Education?

• Awareness of Rights

• Ability to Exercise Civic Rights

• Improved Access to Opportunities

• Economic Mobility

• Improve Gender Equality

• Overall Development

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Lack of education - Where does it take a child?

• Child Exploitation

• Child labor

• Population explosion

• Unsanitary conditions

• Lower standard of living

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The Constitution of India

"The State shall endeavor to provide within a period of ten years

from the commencement of this Constitution, free and compulsory education

for all children until they complete the age of 14 years."

Directive Principles of State Policy, 1950

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India’s Progress in Literacy

Source: Calculated from census data

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001E

Mil

lio

ns

Total Population Illiterates

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Education Expenditure/GNP

Source: Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, Education at a Glance 1996

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

Norway US UK Germany Japan India Turkey

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Social & Regional Disparity

Source: PROBE Report 1999

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Kerala(Urban,Male)

Kerala(Rural,

Female)

All India(Urban)

All India(Rural)

All India(Rural, SC)

All India(Rural, SC,

Female)

Rajasthan(Rural, SC,

Female)

Lit

erac

y R

ate

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Myth 1: Parents not Interested in Education

Is it important for a BOY to be educated? 98% Yes 2% No

Why?87% Improves employment and income opportunities

29% Improves social status

24% Improves confidence or self-esteem

Is it important for a GIRL to be educated? 89% Yes 11% No

Why?50% Helps to write letters and keep accounts

40% Improves employment and income opportunities

35% Improves marriage prospects

Source: PROBE Report 1999

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Myth 2: Child Labor is the Main Obstacle

Percent of children in work force;

Census of India (1991)

National Sample Survey

NCAER Survey

From Probe 1999 Survey for BIMARU;

percent who worked more than 8 hours

average time spent working

Girls

8.8%

7.8%

3.5%

Boys

10.0%

6.9%

4.4%

20%

4.2 hrs

22%

5.1 hrs

Note: Statistics for children aged 5-14Source: PROBE Report 1999

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Myth 3: Elementary Education is Free !!

Average cost of sending a child to school

Primary Level:

NSS Estimate (1986-87) Rs. 212 excl. clothing

PROBE Estimate (1996) Rs. 318

Note: NSS is National Sample Survey

Source: PROBE Report 1999

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But There is Hope – HP Example

0

20

40

60

80

100

1951 1961 1971 1981 1991

Pro

po

rtio

n o

f Il

lite

rate

s (A

ges

10

-14)

Kerala Himachal BIMARU

Source: PROBE 1999

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Himachal - Key Success Factors

• Based entirely on government schools, with relatively little contribution from private institutions

• Driven by good quality schools, family and society involvement

• High level of parental and societal motivation and involvement

• Political commitment

• Children’s education accompanied by adult education

• Good quality schools (infrastructure and teachers)

• Positive rapport between parents and teachers

• Low teacher-child ratio

• Low gender bias

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How You can Get Involved

YOU and Asha

Learn More About Issues

Publicize

Volunteer

Support a Project

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Our Mission To catalyze socio-economic change through

education for the underprivileged children in India

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Introduction

• Asha supports socio-economic change via education for under-privileged children in India

• Every dollar raised by Asha goes directly to support education

• Asha for education is a non-profit organization

• It is run entirely by volunteers

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Asha: Some Facts

• Started in UC Berkeley in 1991

• 40+ chapters worldwide

• 300+ Active volunteers

• 130+ projects

• Total disbursements until now - over $1.5 million

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34 Chapters in the US• At most major universities

• At most large metro with concentrations of Indians

• Satellite Chapters paired with mentor chapters

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

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6

12

16

20

26

22

30

34

0

10

20

30

40

21

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

$3 $10 $30 $53$92

$164 $178

$339

$689

$1048

$0K

$250K

$500K

$750K

$1000K

$1250K

Fund Raised

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Over $1.5M Disbursed in 10 Years

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

$3 $6 $18 $31 $37$82

$108$132

$514

$614

$0K

$200K

$400K

$600K

$800K

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

As

Perc

ent

of F

unds

Rai

sed

As % of Funds Raised

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1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

4 510

1625

41

5764

117

127

0

25

50

75

100

125

Unique Projects By Year

Excludes double-counting of projects supported by multiple chapters

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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

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Chapter-Project Details

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Project Monitoring

• Projects provide periodic finance statements, progress reports, correspond on management issues etc.

• Projects are monitored through visits either by Asha volunteers or the various groups Asha works with, such as AID, CRY etc.

• Projects are monitored for• reduction in dropout rate• commitment to socio-economic change in the region• increase in number of students• improvement in facilities

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<5 5-10 10-15 15-20 20-25 25-30 >300

10

20

30

40

50

Num

ber

of

Res

pon

den

ts

Hours Per Week

Highly committed Volunteers

From Asha-Mirror Survey of Asha10 Attendees, ~80 respondents

• Take time out of busy lifestyles• Work• Family• Personal/ hobbies

• Take their responsibility seriously• Projects• Fundraising• Etc.

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Asha Wide participation

• Stay up-to-date in world-wide Asha activities -• Visit http://www.ashanet.org/mailing-lists.html

• Participate and volunteer for Asha wide activities -• Work-an-hour: Donate one hour of your salary for Education

• Raise awareness of Asha. Help us market Asha merchandise

• Talented in graphics or typesetting? Help out in Calendar Preparation/web development

• Want to be personally involved in a project? Become an Asha Star

• Asha in India - The next time you visit India, stop by our projects or our chapters all over India like Bombay, Chennai, Delhi, Lucknow, Bangalore etc.

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Raising Awareness...

• Presentations to Corporations and Universities

• Participation in India Day Parade

• Newsletters

• Distribution of fliers at events

• Word-of-mouth

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Raising Funds...

• Concerts

• Events (chapter events)

• Writing grants for corporate funding

• Asha Stars (Project supported by direct financial contribution from individuals)

• Individual and corporate tax-exempt donations

• Sale of merchandise - T-shirts, Asha diyas, greeting cards etc.

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Asha for Education[[address]]

www.ashanet.org/[[chapter]]

Phone numbers

All donations to Asha for Education are tax deductible under IRS code 501 (c ) 3.

Contact