Asha for Education Announces Twelfth Global Work an Hour 2009 Campaign
New York, NY, July 17, 2009 --(PR.com)-- In aid of education among underprivileged children across India, Asha for Education (AfE) returns with the twelfth edition of its online Work an Hour (WAH) campaign on July 15, 2009. The funds collected are disbursed among school projects which are selected after evaluation by volunteers. The two months long campaign, spanning through India’s Independence Day on August 15 and culminating on September 15th, 2009 needs to raise $188,415 for this year’s projects which shall help reach out to over 7000 children in 70 schools. The movement has grown steadily since 1998 when over $30,000 was raised from roughly 700 donors to 2008 witnessing over $150,000 generated from close to 1,250 participants.
Based on the simple concept of participants donating one hour’s worth of their earnings, WAH essentially reaches out to projects whose expenditure is mostly fixed and infrastructural in nature and also higher than what one Asha chapter can raise alone. This year the campaign’s theme is ‘Quality in Education’, wherein fifteen projects have been selected across the nation to be showcased for donors. Today, simply retention of children in school and not just ensuring initial enrolment has become a major cause of concern. The 7th All India survey on Education, 2002, cites “lack of interest in studies” as a major factor contributing to drop-out rates among children hailing from deprived backgrounds. 3 out of 4 children state the said reason for discontinuing their studies. This is an extra blow to the already existing drawback of poverty.
Started by three students in the UCLA, Berkeley in 1991, Asha has grown steadily to encompass over 1000 volunteers in 66 chapters worldwide. Recognized for its minimal overheads as costs are borne entirely by volunteers, Asha ensures that hundred percent of the donors’ funds are used to support underprivileged children in India directly. In this pursuit Asha explores both formal and alternative forms of education and keenly scrutinizes projects for funding approval. More significantly, Asha is also involved in community related issues which have a bearing on the learning environment of the children of urban and rural poor. Some of the chosen projects in the past editions have dealt with children of sex workers, children from conflict ridden areas, tribal backgrounds etc.
For more information on the campaign and the projects selected for WAH 2009, please log onto www.workanhour.org.
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Based on the simple concept of participants donating one hour’s worth of their earnings, WAH essentially reaches out to projects whose expenditure is mostly fixed and infrastructural in nature and also higher than what one Asha chapter can raise alone. This year the campaign’s theme is ‘Quality in Education’, wherein fifteen projects have been selected across the nation to be showcased for donors. Today, simply retention of children in school and not just ensuring initial enrolment has become a major cause of concern. The 7th All India survey on Education, 2002, cites “lack of interest in studies” as a major factor contributing to drop-out rates among children hailing from deprived backgrounds. 3 out of 4 children state the said reason for discontinuing their studies. This is an extra blow to the already existing drawback of poverty.
Started by three students in the UCLA, Berkeley in 1991, Asha has grown steadily to encompass over 1000 volunteers in 66 chapters worldwide. Recognized for its minimal overheads as costs are borne entirely by volunteers, Asha ensures that hundred percent of the donors’ funds are used to support underprivileged children in India directly. In this pursuit Asha explores both formal and alternative forms of education and keenly scrutinizes projects for funding approval. More significantly, Asha is also involved in community related issues which have a bearing on the learning environment of the children of urban and rural poor. Some of the chosen projects in the past editions have dealt with children of sex workers, children from conflict ridden areas, tribal backgrounds etc.
For more information on the campaign and the projects selected for WAH 2009, please log onto www.workanhour.org.
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Contact
Asha for Education
Hina Mehta
2402056191
http://www.workanhour.org
Hina Mehta
2402056191
http://www.workanhour.org
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