• A message from the coordinators, thanking you for your support and sharing some highlights from the fall events and activities.
• A summary of the funds disbursed to four projects in West Bengal, India, that provide education and empowerment to girls, women, and children in need.
• A description of the events and activities that we organized or participated in, such as CineMasala, Board Game Night, Dussehra, Tabling, and Game Day Concessions.
• A project update from two volunteers who visited two of our projects in India and shared their experiences and insights.
• A report on the running program that we conducted, with testimonials from runners, trainers, and volunteers who raised funds for our projects by running the Peachtree Road Race.
• A call to action for getting involved with our cause, either by volunteering, donating, or joining our team.

We hope you enjoy reading this newsletter and join us in our mission to empower communities through education.

In the heart of Baruipur, a small town in the Indian state of West Bengal, there lies a haven of hope for underprivileged children of the community. Nishtha, a local NGO, has been working tirelessly for almost 50 years to provide girls and children of sex workers with a better future. It does this through two of its projects – Nishtha Jagaran, aimed towards improving the lives of young girls and women in the community, and Nishtha Night Shelter, a safe place for children whose mothers work in the nearby red-light district. In a recent site visit, we (Ved and Agniva) were able to see first-hand the impact of these two projects and the challenges that they are currently facing.

Nishtha Jagaran delivers targeted aid to girl children and infants in the community through various programs. One of the programs that we observed was the Special Education Unit. Here, children with special needs and intellectual disabilities receive physiotherapy, basic childcare, and special education. They are also able to participate in activities such as drawing, collage, and art and craft to help deliver hands-on education and prepare them for future employment opportunities.

We also attended a committee meeting with the Kishori Bahini group, where girls from Class 9 to 3rd year of college work together to help girls in over sixty villages in rural West Bengal gain the skills and confidence needed to claim community roles equal to those of their male counterparts. During the meeting, the girls discussed the problems they face in their villages, including domestic violence, lack of support from parents, and the prevalence of fake tutoring centers that prey on underprivileged children.

Another program that we were able to observe was the sanitary napkin production house. Nishtha has started an in-house production facility to provide sanitary napkins to girls in the community, with plans to shift sourcing of materials to local vendors in West Bengal. This program not only provides a much-needed product to girls who may not have access to it, but it also provides employment opportunities for women in the community. Thanks to the support of Asha for Education Atlanta Chapter, Nishtha was able to build a Night Shelter in 2014. With about 30 children currently in residence, the shelter offers not only a roof over their heads but also a range of services to help them escape the clutches of the sex trade.

During our site visit to Nishtha, we were impressed by the level of care and dedication that the organization provides. The caregivers at the shelter work tirelessly to ensure that the children receive a decent education, healthy meals, and plenty of opportunities for play and creative expression. The children are encouraged to read, sing, dance, and engage in various other activities that help them develop their talents and skills. We were also struck by the confidence and fluency with which the children spoke. They were eager to share their knowledge and experiences with us, and their teachers were just as eager to showcase their accomplishments. Some of the students had even received awards for their academic performance, which was a testament to the hard work of both the students and their teachers.

Despite the progress that Nishtha has made in recent years, there are still some challenges that the organization faces. For one thing, there is a pressing need to provide better protection for the children, especially the older ones, who are more vulnerable to sex-traffickers. Nishtha is currently in the process of enclosing the Night Shelter and constructing a gate to help address this issue. Another challenge is the problem of mosquitoes, which are a major nuisance in the area. The caregivers at the shelter have taken steps to protect the infants from mosquito bites by using nets, but more needs to be done to protect the older children as well.

The scar of COVID-19 remains ever so present, too. Many locals have lost their livelihoods due to lockdowns and the suspension of trains, and the cyclones have caused widespread destruction and displacement. Nishtha is working hard to provide support and resources to those affected by these challenges, but they need our help to continue their important work.

Overall, our visit to Nishtha was a heartwarming experience that left us feeling inspired and uplifted. It was a reminder of the power of community organizations to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children. Thanks to the ongoing support of Asha for Education Atlanta Chapter and other donors, Nishtha will continue to provide a safe haven for these children for many years to come.

Learn more about the project, how we support them, and find detailed reports on Asha’s project website for Nishtha Night Shelter and Nishtha Jagaran.

Hijli Inspiration, an NGO based in Kolkata, a city in West Bengal, India, believes that education is one of the most important tools in empowering individuals and communities. In partnership with Asha for Education Atlanta Chapter, the organization runs backup coaching centers in the Kamarhati area, north Kolkata. The coaching centers are located in the slums where the students live and receive instruction in Bengali and Urdu. What left an impression on me was the unequivocal impact that these centers have had on the lives of children in the realm of delivering quality education. During my visit to the centers, I saw dedication and enthusiasm in both the students and the teachers. The students were eager to learn and were happy to be there, even on a day when they usually have off. They showed me their artwork and creative projects, which were impressive and showed their passion and talents. Their teachers, Aasia Khatoon, Samma Parveen, and Md Aziz, were equally passionate about their students and their progress.

One of the major changes that Hijli Inspiration is making is transitioning from supporting students with their school curriculum to a more holistic approach. Due to the sustained school closures, the focus is now on providing more direct education to students to help them keep up with the curriculum and bridge the gap caused by the closures. The centers are also planning to introduce digital education and keep tabs on students beyond Class 7 to ensure they qualify for their Class 10 examinations. Hijli Inspiration is also hoping to collect data on alumni of the program and involve some of them as volunteer tutors for newer students.

The impact of Hijli Inspiration’s work is evident in the aspirations of the students. Many of the older students spoke about wanting to go to college, while some of the girls talked about working in beauty parlors, which is apparently a common and stable profession in the area. One alumna of the coaching centers is pursuing an undergraduate degree in History, which shows the success of the program in empowering students to pursue their dreams, all the while inspiring us to work harder to contribute to the cause. Their partnership with Asha for Education Atlanta Chapter is making a significant impact in the Kamarhati area. Through education and support, Hijli Inspiration is empowering students and helping them pursue their dreams.

Learn more about the project, how we support them, and find detailed reports on Asha’s project website.