Where we come from
In 1991, a few Berkeley students asked what they could do from here for children in India who never get a fair shot at school. The answer became Asha, and it grew into chapters around the world.
Three decades later we're still students and still volunteers. Everything we raise goes to classrooms in India.
What we hold ourselves to
Secular and non-political
Education is for every child. We work with projects regardless of religion, caste, or politics.
Volunteer run
No salaries and no office. Students do the work, so donations go to children instead of overhead.
Transparent
Every project is reviewed and voted on by the chapter. Funded projects report back, and our books are open.
How a project gets funded
A project applies. Grassroots NGOs working on education in India send us a proposal and a budget.
We dig in. Volunteers study it, talk with the people running it, and when we can, visit in person.
The chapter votes. Funding decisions happen at general meetings. Every member gets a voice.
We follow through. Funded projects send us progress reports, and we keep funding the ones that are working.
Your money goes further than you'd think.
Donations pay for things like school supplies, teachers' stipends, and scholarships that keep kids in class.