Asha for Education

Deenabandhu is a charitable Non-Profit Organization located in Chamarajnagar. Deenabandhu works towards the education and rehabilitation of orphan, destitute and estranged children. Chamarajnagar is a border district of Karnataka abutting Kerala and Tamilnadu states and is one of the economically very backward districts.

Deenabandhu was founded in 1992 with a first batch of 6 boys in a rented house by Prof. G.S. Jayadev. It is during this time that Mrs. Magali Reynaud from Retures, Switzerland visited Deenabandhu. Mrs. Megaly was deeply impressed and promised support. This was a stepping stone, a promise followed a priceless action and monetary aid so in 1994 we began the construction of cottages for boys.

Now there are four children's cottages each housing around 12 boys under the care of a house mother/father. Also there is a spacious dinning hall, office building, guest room and staff quarters.

In 1998 innovative primary school was founded in an area of one and a half acres close to Ramsamudra village of Chamarajnagar town. The school building with its picturesque class rooms attracts a lot of visitors. The school is envisaged as a tool for social change and provides creative education for children from BPL (below poverty line) families. The education is highly subsidized, levying only a participatory fee. The mid-day meal provides nutritious food with out availing any government grant. A Teacher Resource Center is part of the school and has an elaborate education program.

It was recognized early that the plight of a girl child, especially in a society with gender bias, is much more precarious than that of boys. The sisters of some of our boys also needed support. Responding to this compelling need Deenabandhu started a home for girls in 2005 in a rented house close to the existing boys' home. To begin with there were just 6 girls and the number grew to 14 demanding more space for accommodating more girls. It is at this juncture, funds were raised from generous donors to build a home for girls. In 2010 a green home for girls was established. The home can accommodate 40 girls and currently there are 31 housed.