Asha Trust - Samajik Shikshan Kendra Mirzapur
Asha Trust - Samajik Shikshan Kendra Mirzapur
Project Brief: SSK Mirzapur is a collection of 6 different education centers spread in various villages in Mirzapur district primarily catering to children of the extremely marginalized Musahar community.
Project Type: Alternative Education (description)
Primary Focus: children of dalits/tribals (description)
Supporting Chapter Contact: Boston
Project Type: Alternative Education (description)
Primary Focus: children of dalits/tribals (description)
Secondary Focus: to go to formal school
Area: RuralSupporting Chapter Contact:
Status: current / ongoing
Project Steward: Santosh Verma
Project Partner(s): Deen Singh
Other Contacts:
Project Address: , Bhandahan Kalan,PO Kaithi,Varanasi,
Uttar Pradesh 221116
Tel: 919415256848
Stewarding Chapter: Boston
Project Steward: Santosh Verma
Project Partner(s): Deen Singh
Other Contacts:
Project Address: , Bhandahan Kalan,PO Kaithi,Varanasi,
Uttar Pradesh 221116
Tel: 919415256848
Stewarding Chapter: Boston
Total = $0
This project is a collection of 6 education centers across the following villages - Bakiabad, Shekhwan, Patwai, Pachengda, Rastogia, Bawanji, all located in Mirzapur district in Uttar Pradesh. Despite being less than an hour from a major city like Varanasi, this region can seem a world apart.
The education centers were started roughly around 2022. Mahendra Rathaur, the primary individual responsible for starting these centers, was heavily involved in working with helping members of these communities find employment under NREGA and started the education centers as a means to keep tight engagement in the community.
This engagement works in compliment to his efforts with NREGA laborers
- When the parents are away at work, the children need some kind of engagement instead of whiling away their time.
- In some cases, getting introduced to parents through their children cultivates a sense of assurance within the community that he's a reliable and trustworthy person who is willing to lend a helping hand solving the community's problems
The children are a mix of locals and some migrant children but heavily skew towards locals belonging to the Musahar community. This extremely marginalized community finds itself at a tremendous disadvantage with high levels of illiteracy and lack of awareness and our goal is to ensure that the next generation does not suffer the same fate
For the first 3 years (2022-2025) a Belgian organization Mala Sponsorship for Indian Children and that funding stopped in early 2025 leading to these centers being closed for some time. Asha Boston agreed to fund these centers for an intial period of one year following subsequent review.
The education centers were started roughly around 2022. Mahendra Rathaur, the primary individual responsible for starting these centers, was heavily involved in working with helping members of these communities find employment under NREGA and started the education centers as a means to keep tight engagement in the community.
This engagement works in compliment to his efforts with NREGA laborers
- When the parents are away at work, the children need some kind of engagement instead of whiling away their time.
- In some cases, getting introduced to parents through their children cultivates a sense of assurance within the community that he's a reliable and trustworthy person who is willing to lend a helping hand solving the community's problems
The children are a mix of locals and some migrant children but heavily skew towards locals belonging to the Musahar community. This extremely marginalized community finds itself at a tremendous disadvantage with high levels of illiteracy and lack of awareness and our goal is to ensure that the next generation does not suffer the same fate
For the first 3 years (2022-2025) a Belgian organization Mala Sponsorship for Indian Children and that funding stopped in early 2025 leading to these centers being closed for some time. Asha Boston agreed to fund these centers for an intial period of one year following subsequent review.
Asha Trust works to catalyze socio-economic change in India through the education of underprivileged children.
Asha Trust is the India arm of Asha for Education (US) with similar vision & mission
Sep 2025 List of Centers
Sep 2025 Metrics
Aug 2025 Budget
Aug 2025 Proposal
Aug 2025 Site Visit
Jun 2024 Budget 2024
Sep 2025 Metrics
Aug 2025 Budget
Aug 2025 Proposal
Aug 2025 Site Visit
Jun 2024 Budget 2024