Asha for Education

In addition to teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic, they also teach geography, science, and some music. The education also involves training skills in weaving, cloth-making, and gardening/farming. Basic living code such as cleanliness, cooking, grooming, and manners are also instilled in the children.

The Sarvodaya Parivar Trust in Pindval was established in 1968 by Kantabhen Shah. She began by walking 13 km. everyday for 14 years to provide medical services to the Adivasi people. Through her efforts, a doctor became a resident and continues medical service there.

Pinval is located 2400 feet above sea level and has over 120 villages in the surrounding area. The Adivasi people (tribals who live on the mountain plateau near Pindval) speak a local language which is about 60% Marati and 40% Gujarati (colloquial forms of Gujarati and Marati, not the proper forms).

Since there were bad water tanks, she helped build a well in a location central to the 125 villages and 7000 families in Pindval. Planting of mango trees and other crops were assisted by Kanbaben Shah. The trust set up a roofing program to create permanent roofs rather than the straw used previously. A spinning a weaving program was also established, an idea advocated by Mohandas Gandhi.

Pindval is located in a remote mountain plataeu in Gujarat, about 1-2 hours by car from the nearest large city, Valsad.

Kantibhai cell: :+91 9427176711