Students from a local private school recently helped to put together a book as a way to raise money for a reading center in India.
Roughly 30 students were involved with making the book "Ravi Revs and Reads," including teens from Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad, Cathedral Catholic in Del Mar and Kearney High School in San Diego.
"I just think that it's a really unique experience for students from three different schools to work on a project," said Chiara Dorigo, a senior at Pacific Ridge.
The book is based on Ravi Aluganti, a native of India who has worked over the last decade to provide books for children in rural schools.
Money raised by selling the book will help pay for a children's resource center, which is a permanent structure that will assist poor students who attend rural government schools in India.
The students hope to raise at least $6,000, which will help Aluganti finish the project. A private donor from New Jersey has agreed to give the center another $12,000 if the students are successful. That $18,000 will allow him to finish the center.
Full report here North County Times
Showing posts with label charity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label charity. Show all posts
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Book wall down, count still rises
The giant wall built by the people of Calcutta, book by beloved book, at City Centre (Salt Lake) was brought down on Sunday night but the count just keeps rising.
The official count at the end of five days of the Aviva Great Wall of Education, presented by The Telegraph, stood at 328,000, a good 200,000 more than the Delhi mark.
Books have continued to trickle in at various locations. “We have had people walking in with books to give away. We could not turn them away,” said Asim Rafique, the store manager of Starmark in South City.
So, the book collection process goes on, and on. They are being collected from the different outlets of Frank Ross pharmacies, Starmark stores, branches of Aviva, the Royal Bank of Scotland and Punjab & Sind Bank.
Books are also coming in from many of the 240 schools that have participated in the donation drive for children who can’t buy books. Students have been the biggest contributors to the wall of books with South Point School pitching in with 15,533, Delhi Public School Ruby Park with 10,658, followed by Surah Kanya Vidyalaya, Modern High School for Girls, Mahadevi Birla Girls Higher Secondary School, Abhinav Bharati, Better High School, Mother International, Hariyana Vidya Mandir and many more.
Full report here Telegraph
The official count at the end of five days of the Aviva Great Wall of Education, presented by The Telegraph, stood at 328,000, a good 200,000 more than the Delhi mark.
Books have continued to trickle in at various locations. “We have had people walking in with books to give away. We could not turn them away,” said Asim Rafique, the store manager of Starmark in South City.
So, the book collection process goes on, and on. They are being collected from the different outlets of Frank Ross pharmacies, Starmark stores, branches of Aviva, the Royal Bank of Scotland and Punjab & Sind Bank.
Books are also coming in from many of the 240 schools that have participated in the donation drive for children who can’t buy books. Students have been the biggest contributors to the wall of books with South Point School pitching in with 15,533, Delhi Public School Ruby Park with 10,658, followed by Surah Kanya Vidyalaya, Modern High School for Girls, Mahadevi Birla Girls Higher Secondary School, Abhinav Bharati, Better High School, Mother International, Hariyana Vidya Mandir and many more.
Full report here Telegraph
Friday, September 10, 2010
Five-day book collection drive concludes
2.52 lakh books collected in the five-day drive
Book-by-book, the wall is finally built, with the number crossing 2.52 lakh as on Thursday, when the five-day book donation drive for underprivileged children concluded. With generous contributions pouring in from different sections, the ‘Aviva Great Wall of Education', presented by The Hindu, at the Express Avenue Mall stands tall and majestic.
Speaking at the valedictory, N.Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu, said it was a splendid effort from the people of Chennai to donate for the education of underprivileged children.
“It is not that people have given away what they do not need, rather these are books which are still precious and valuable to them,” he said, referring to titles such as Alice in the Wonderland, Under the Banyan Tree, Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography and works of Shakespeare.
Mr. Ram said queries such as who is going to benefit, how these books are going to be disbursed, the background of children getting these books would be communicated.
Full report here Hindu
Speaking at the valedictory, N.Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu, said it was a splendid effort from the people of Chennai to donate for the education of underprivileged children.
“It is not that people have given away what they do not need, rather these are books which are still precious and valuable to them,” he said, referring to titles such as Alice in the Wonderland, Under the Banyan Tree, Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography and works of Shakespeare.
Mr. Ram said queries such as who is going to benefit, how these books are going to be disbursed, the background of children getting these books would be communicated.
Full report here Hindu
Monday, September 6, 2010
Have books? Donate
If you wish to be a part of the book donation movement, head for the mall and drop off books at The Great Wall of Education before September 9. It could be any book that children relate to. You could donate other books as well; they will be recycled and converted into notebooks for the kids supported by various NGOs.
Aviva will present donors with their pictures at the Great Wall.
Full rerport here Hindu
Book donation campaign for poor kids launched
Aviva Insurance kickstarted its book donation programme in the city at the newly-opened Express Avenue mall on Sunday.
Titled Aviva Great Wall of Education, the programme is aimed at the major metros of Kolkata and Delhi apart from Chennai. The book donation drive is for underprivileged children wherein various locations, across 300 schools, have been identified to drop off your books till September 9.
The programme in its second year now, was launched in Delhi last year where 123,000 books were collected and given to Save The Children, an NGO.
T R Ramachandran, CEO & MD of Aviva India, said that the campaign was a manifestation of a better future. Actor Kamal Haasan, the star attraction for the launch on Sunday, said that the sacred initiative was a noble drive and great way to give life to a child.
Aviva has partnered with NGOs to facilitate education to over 50,000 children by 2012.
Full report here New Indian Express
Titled Aviva Great Wall of Education, the programme is aimed at the major metros of Kolkata and Delhi apart from Chennai. The book donation drive is for underprivileged children wherein various locations, across 300 schools, have been identified to drop off your books till September 9.
The programme in its second year now, was launched in Delhi last year where 123,000 books were collected and given to Save The Children, an NGO.
T R Ramachandran, CEO & MD of Aviva India, said that the campaign was a manifestation of a better future. Actor Kamal Haasan, the star attraction for the launch on Sunday, said that the sacred initiative was a noble drive and great way to give life to a child.
Aviva has partnered with NGOs to facilitate education to over 50,000 children by 2012.
Full report here New Indian Express
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Spreading the message of sharing and learning
Kamal Haasan inaugurates book collection drive
It was a rather special celebration of ‘Teachers' Day' here on Sunday, when actor Kamal Haasan placed a few books he had brought on the ‘Aviva Great Wall of Education' presented by The Hindu. It marked the formal launch of a large book collection drive to support children from underprivileged sections.
“I am not wondering why I am here this morning. I am a high school drop-out. Thanks to books and my extramural teachers who taught me a lot, I am here today. They were also kind enough to lend me books,” the actor said.
Emphasising the role of books in shaping individuals and giving them access to knowledge, Mr. Haasan said the drive might look simple, but was a great one. “I feel honoured to be here.”
The ‘Aviva Great Wall of Education', presented by The Hindu in Chennai, is an initiative of Aviva Life Insurance to involve the community and collect books that would later be distributed to students of disadvantaged sections, with the support of the State's Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan wing, and non-governmental organisations Save The Children and Vidyarambam Trust.
Full report here Hindu
 |
| Actor Kamal Haasan places the first set of books on the 'Aviva Great Wall of Education' presented by The Hindu, in Chennai on Sunday, Sep 5 |
“I am not wondering why I am here this morning. I am a high school drop-out. Thanks to books and my extramural teachers who taught me a lot, I am here today. They were also kind enough to lend me books,” the actor said.
Emphasising the role of books in shaping individuals and giving them access to knowledge, Mr. Haasan said the drive might look simple, but was a great one. “I feel honoured to be here.”
The ‘Aviva Great Wall of Education', presented by The Hindu in Chennai, is an initiative of Aviva Life Insurance to involve the community and collect books that would later be distributed to students of disadvantaged sections, with the support of the State's Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan wing, and non-governmental organisations Save The Children and Vidyarambam Trust.
Full report here Hindu
Salute a city that cares and shares enough to build a giant book wall
● Sumit Agarwal, 19, struggled to climb the City Centre steps but he just had to add his share of books (65 of them) to the wall. “I don’t consider my difficulty in walking a problem. So many kids don’t have access to education. That is a much greater problem,” said the boy with cerebral palsy.
● Souhardya Ganguly, a Class IV student, who came to give to the cause of education, got a lot more in return. Just as he parted with his favourite Sherlock Holmes and poetry books, he discovered an unread Enid Blyton Sea of Adventure in the book wall. He promptly picked it up and sat down to read. “I will finish it here,” he declared.
The Aviva Great Wall of Education, presented by The Telegraph, brought out the best in Calcutta over five days — a Calcutta that cares, a Calcutta that shares — and so the book count at the City Centre (Salt Lake) soared past the Delhi mark of 123,000 and towards a 400,000 high.
By the time the wall-building endeavour was halted on Sunday evening, the count read 328,000 with books still being collated and counted.
The spirit of giving was the clear winner. The spirit that drew three generations of a family, Kamala Chakraborty, 72, daughter-in-law Krishna, 44, and granddaughter Piyali, 14, to the wall with 150 books.
The spirit that saw M.C. Saha come with 208 primary level books, register them and slip away, even refusing to be photographed. He was there for the cause, not the cameras.
Full report here Telegraph
● Souhardya Ganguly, a Class IV student, who came to give to the cause of education, got a lot more in return. Just as he parted with his favourite Sherlock Holmes and poetry books, he discovered an unread Enid Blyton Sea of Adventure in the book wall. He promptly picked it up and sat down to read. “I will finish it here,” he declared.
The Aviva Great Wall of Education, presented by The Telegraph, brought out the best in Calcutta over five days — a Calcutta that cares, a Calcutta that shares — and so the book count at the City Centre (Salt Lake) soared past the Delhi mark of 123,000 and towards a 400,000 high.
By the time the wall-building endeavour was halted on Sunday evening, the count read 328,000 with books still being collated and counted.
The spirit of giving was the clear winner. The spirit that drew three generations of a family, Kamala Chakraborty, 72, daughter-in-law Krishna, 44, and granddaughter Piyali, 14, to the wall with 150 books.
The spirit that saw M.C. Saha come with 208 primary level books, register them and slip away, even refusing to be photographed. He was there for the cause, not the cameras.
Full report here Telegraph
Friday, September 3, 2010
Book wall bridges the gap
Satyasarathi Poddar celebrated his 12th birthday on Thursday not counting his gifts but gifting his books to the Great Wall of Education at City Centre in Kolkata.
Among the 30 books that the Class VI student gave to be passed on to children who cannot afford to buy them was 1000 Words in Pictures gifted on his second birthday by his uncle and aunt. The message on the first page of the dictionary read: ‘With a hope that you do not tear it up’.
“I haven’t torn the book, and I now want to give it to some kids who can make as much use of it as I did…. My uncle and aunt would be very happy,” said the Bhavan’s Gangabux Kanoria Vidya Mandir boy from Bangur.
Not long before Satyasarathi came to the Aviva Great Wall of Education, presented by The Telegraph, Dipak Basu, 75, and wife Maitreyee, 70, had arrived at the Salt Lake landmark from Jodhpur Park, armed with 25 books.
“The distance (or even his arthritic limp) does not matter considering the cause that we are giving the books for,” said Dipak Basu, carrying mostly physics books of his son, a professor at University of California. “He does not need these anymore. And I did not know we could also bring storybooks, so I will come back with some before Sunday.”
Full report here Telegraph
“I haven’t torn the book, and I now want to give it to some kids who can make as much use of it as I did…. My uncle and aunt would be very happy,” said the Bhavan’s Gangabux Kanoria Vidya Mandir boy from Bangur.
Not long before Satyasarathi came to the Aviva Great Wall of Education, presented by The Telegraph, Dipak Basu, 75, and wife Maitreyee, 70, had arrived at the Salt Lake landmark from Jodhpur Park, armed with 25 books.
“The distance (or even his arthritic limp) does not matter considering the cause that we are giving the books for,” said Dipak Basu, carrying mostly physics books of his son, a professor at University of California. “He does not need these anymore. And I did not know we could also bring storybooks, so I will come back with some before Sunday.”
Full report here Telegraph
Book collection drive for underprivileged children
Come Sunday, everyone in Chennai will have an opportunity to make a small contribution to a cause requiring a large amount of effort – educating children from underprivileged sections.
The Hindu presents ‘Aviva Great Wall of Education', a book collection drive that seeks to source as many books as possible for children and raise the general awareness about the several million children who do not have access to schools.
The initiative will be launched at the Express Avenue Mall, Royapettah, on September 5 and go on till September 9. Anyone who wishes to donate books for children could come to the venue and place their books on the ‘wall' to be set up at the venue.
Books are also to be collected by placing drop boxes at different schools and other venues in the city.
Full report here Hindu
The Hindu presents ‘Aviva Great Wall of Education', a book collection drive that seeks to source as many books as possible for children and raise the general awareness about the several million children who do not have access to schools.
The initiative will be launched at the Express Avenue Mall, Royapettah, on September 5 and go on till September 9. Anyone who wishes to donate books for children could come to the venue and place their books on the ‘wall' to be set up at the venue.
Books are also to be collected by placing drop boxes at different schools and other venues in the city.
Full report here Hindu
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Charity begins in self-interest
What could be problematic about charity by rich countries? Isn’t it the most natural thing for a rich nation to help poor neighbours? It is widely accepted that things are more complicated than that. When charity comes from foreign countries to the government or to NGOs, it is not just altruism that drives it but mostly self-interest and, in fact, extending grants is not charity at all. That is what the book Foreign Aid to NGOs: Problem or Solution? concludes in its critique of all foreign aid directed to non-profit organisations in the country over the last five decades.
Pushpa Sundar, the author who is also the co-founder of the Sampradan Indian Centre for Philanthropy, puts together arguments for and against foreign aid in the context of the three players — the government, NGOs and donors. She speaks from every possible angle with a dash of irony and humour that makes the book a good read despite the swathes of names, numbers and other data related to grants and funds the reader has to cut through.
The book traces the link between self-interest and aid to the very origin of official development aid by rich nations. For instance, Western Official Development Assistance had two origins — the US fear of communist extremism and European imperialistic politics. For the US aid was an extension of the Cold War containment policy towards the poorer nations of Asia, Africa and southern Europe; for European donors, the aid was directed at their former colonies.
Full report here Business Standard
The book traces the link between self-interest and aid to the very origin of official development aid by rich nations. For instance, Western Official Development Assistance had two origins — the US fear of communist extremism and European imperialistic politics. For the US aid was an extension of the Cold War containment policy towards the poorer nations of Asia, Africa and southern Europe; for European donors, the aid was directed at their former colonies.
Full report here Business Standard
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