Urgent Appeal from Atlanta chapter for Cyclone Aila Relief

As of Friday, 29th May 2009, more than 100 people are reported dead and an estimated 3 million displaced from their homes by Cyclone Aila in southern West Bengal.

In the Sundarbans area, thousands of homes have been broken and people have taken shelter in nearby schools and Panchayat offices. There is an acute shortage of food, drinking water and clothes. As the water is receding in some villages gastroenteritis is beginning to rear its ugly head.

More information will be made available by the Atlanta chapter here. You may donate here to help the Atlanta chapter's efforts.

Asha Hyderabad's Phase Forward ACE Quiz 2009, a corporate quiz competition

The Phase Forward ACE Quiz 2009 is a battle among the best brains from corporate houses in Hyderabad and elsewhere. The quiz will be conducted by Quizerati, a team of avid quiz experts. It offers participants a chance to pit their brains against the best and win attractive prizes. Proceeds from the quiz will be used to support various Asha Hyderabad projects, and by participating in ACE you will be supporting this cause.

ACE 2009 organized on 13th June 2009 at ISB, Gachobowli, Hyderabad is also supported by several media partners like TV9, RadioCity 91FM, fullhyd.com and coverage by other TV, Press media.

Last year, ACE 2008 attracted over 50 teams which included the likes of Google, Microsoft, KPMG etc. from Hyderabad and outside. The quiz was covered by The Hindu, NTV, Maa TV etc. The money raised was used for providing mid-day meals to over 250 children at the Ramakrishna School Upper Primary School, Kukatpally.

Team Asha Getting Ready to "Run" so they can "Read"

Team Asha, the marathon training program of Asha for Education is getting started across North America and Bangalore.

Started in 2000 at our Silicon Valley chapter, this program successfully trained hundreds of first time runners to help thousands of first time readers in India.

Currently in its 9th year, the program successfully became an international initiative with 19 chapters participating across US and India. Team Asha welcomes every individual within the age group of 13-60 to run for the cause of literacy.

Each runner has raised anywhere from $500 to $2500 based on the individual targets that they wanted to achieve.

If you wish to run, volunteer or support us towards this novel cause please visit our website http://www.team-asha.org/ look for a chapter in your neighborhood and contact them today'

Helping Children From India's Slums

The Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire has captured hearts around the world. Of the millions who have seen it, many wonder what they can do to help children from India's slums.

Asha for Education volunteers have funded and organized dozens of projects in slums across India, including the slums shown in Slumdog Millionaire. Asha has been working to help these children for more than 10 years, with 93 education projects focusing on children from the slums.

One of the best things you can do to help is to make a donation to Asha for Education -- please use the Google Checkout form on the right side of this page. Asha has been given the highest possible rating by Charity Navigator and has been a top-rated nonprofit on many Charity Navigator lists, including "10 Slam Dunk Charities."

In the sunny metropolis of Chennai, a 115-year-old school called Olcott Memorial is dedicated to educating the poorest children. The Chapter Coordinator of Asha Chennai, Lakshmi Suryanarayanan, is also Headmistress at Olcott Memorial. Lakshmi oversees the many education projects focused on helping children from slums in Chennai, funded and informed by Asha volunteers around the world.

Lakshmi greets some of her eager students.

Lakshmi anchors the dedicated staff at Olcott Memorial, here including kitchen staff who provide for students' nutritional needs.

Project Bridge is Olcott Memorial's attempt to bridge the digital divide. There is a growing divide between children from poor families, whose access to computers is almost nonexistent, and the growing computer use by children from wealthy families. Future plans for Asha funding at Olcott Memorial include purchasing increased Internet connectivity for their computer lab, teacher training, and improving science labs.

Any amount you donate can mean the world to a child, and because Asha is run by volunteers, 100% of your contribution will reach the children. If a general donation is not specific or personal enough, consider giving with Asha's Support A Child program.

Something else you can do to help: spread the word. Using one of the linked images below or in any way you prefer, share a link to Asha for Education on your website, blog, profile, or in email. If you know someone who may want to support basic education in India, send them here!

Please link images to http://www.ashanet.org/

Article and photos by Brian Glanz, who has volunteered with Asha at Cornell University, in India, and in Seattle. He can be reached at www.brianglanz.net

Dr Chandra of Sankurathri Foundation is a CNN Hero

Dr. Chandrasekhar Sankurathri of the Sankurathri Foundation was named a CNN Hero. See the video on CNN and read a story featured by The Canadian Broadcasting Company in its online paper.

Asha for Education is proud to extend support to the school run by the Sankurathri Foundation. Read more about Asha's support.

Sankurathri Foundation School, photo by Sreenivas.