Asha for Education

Timbaktu Collective is a rural development organization working in the three mandals - Chennekotha Palli (C.K.Palli), Ramgiri and Roddam of India's second most drought prone district, Ananthapur in Andhra Pradesh. For over 20 years they have been working on issues of rural development through Eco-restoration, Child rights, Youth development, Disability rights, Alternative banking with women, Organic farming and producer owned business enterprise development.

During the course of their work they came across children from difficult family circumstances, orphans and neglected children from poor households. This led to the establishment in 1994 of Prakruti Badi, a residential alternative school, for these children. The school enables them to enjoy childhood and blossom in a free, joyful and open environment of learning amidst nature.

Prakruti Badi provides free food and all round education while catering to the health needs of these 65 children. The children explore the world through the use of all their faculties. Arts and crafts, dance and drama are not considered extra-curricular but are an imperative part of the learning process.

Asha-Bangalore runs a Support A Child program to support the living expense, education, health care, etc of the residential children.