The Tara Education Fund
Each day, millions of children across India are confronted with a difficult choice: work or school? Unfortunately for many, lack of family finances and required tuition fees have already chosen for them.
In Sanskrit, tara means “star”. CAFAmerica has partnered with CAF India to offer American donors an opportunity to ensure that children in need are able to continue reaching for their tara.
Through a careful selection process, CAF India has identified four organizations – Vidya, Mahita, Sikshana Chartiable Trust, and The Leprosy Mission Trust India – all of whom provide the highest level and quality of service to the communities they serve. Each organization is dedicated to providing marginalized and disadvantaged children with the support necessary to make them successful students, and ultimately, successful citizens in their community. To learn more, see the organizations’ profiles below.
By supporting the Tara Education Fund, donors can take advantage of the safe and easy international grantmaking that CAFAmerica offers, combined with the expert, on-the-ground knowledge and program management that CAF India’s team provides. CAF India will monitor how the beneficiaries utilized the grant funds by collecting grant reports and performing regular site visits.
Start by suggesting the Tara Education Fund as a grant recipient from your
CAFAmerica Donor Advised Fund or by making a
Single Donor Advised Gift. Download a
CAFAmerica Gift Form.
Give Now to ensure that the children featured below and millions like them continue to recieve the education they need to thrive.
Priyanka Jadhav is the 15 year old daughter of a car driver in Powai, Mumbai. At an age where children should be able to enjoy the freedom of life, play and dream, she fights everyday with the social odds stacked against her. She understands that her family has remained poor and helpless because her parents are uneducated. She is soft natured, but a strong willed girl.
Two years ago, Priyanka had to change from a Marathi school – the local language - to an English school and found the new environment and language very daunting, particularly in math and science. She would often cry when she was unable to solve a math problem, but she was not deterred, and continued to work hard.
Today, Priyanka is a scholarship holder and science student graduate from the semi-English language Vidya School. She secured 75% with distinction in her final exams.
Priyanka is now attending college as a science major, and aspires to become a school teacher so that she can help educate poor children like her. She is transforming into a confident adult and handling the challenges she faces with poise.
CAF India supports Vidya School and many such non profits that are working relentlessly to educate and empower underprivileged children. We nurture children to foster responsible citizens.
Vidya, Mumbai, Maharashtra:
Vidya is a registered non-for-profit that is working to educate and empower underprivileged children, youth, and women from economically weaker sections of the community through micro-level intervention. Established in 1985, the main aim of Vidya is to inculcate in a child deeper learning that will leave a positive impact on his or her personality
Today, Vidya is a multi-layered organization that has initiated nationally recognized grass-roots level development programs in some of the poorest neighborhoods in Delhi, Haryana, Mumbai and Bangalore. These include schools and programs in remedial education, computer training, open school, adult literacy, skills training, microfinance and social entrepreneurship.
Vidya has made a difference in the lives of over 200,000 families, and is supported by a strong team of 200 personnel. The team includes local and foreign volunteers, teachers and staff, as well as a large circle of committed friends, donors and well wishers.
Syeda Tabassum Fatima and her six-member family reside in an urban slum, surviving on her father’s meager monthly plumber’s salary of $88USD. Once she was a school dropout, but today, Syeda Tabassum Fatima is a first year student at Government Junior College, Nampally, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
Syeda had lost all hope of resuming her education – then she met the Mahita team at a community meeting. The team provided remedial coaching at one of its educational centers and developed Syeda’s levels of learning. This support enabled her to sit for her Tenth grade exams which play an important role in determine how one’s education continues.
Though Syeda wanted to continue with her higher education, her family could not afford the tuition. The Mahita team helped her secure admission to college and has mobilized the community to help pay her tuition. Syeda has recently completed a beautician training course through Mahita and is happily pursuing her final courses in history and economics.
CAF India supports Mahita and many such non profits across the country that is relentlessly providing opportunities and resources for the overall development of poor, adolescent girls.
Mahita, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh:
Mahita, a term derived from ancient Indian scriptures, means regeneration. The organization was founded in 1994 by a team of committed individuals to initiate development interventions in the urban slums of Hyderabad. Mahita's goal is to generate development that is socially just, economically viable and culturally vibrant and true to the area and regional ethos.
Mahita believes that every child be given the chance to become an adult who can positively contribute to society. To achieve this, a child needs to be given all opportunities and resources for their overall development and growth.
The core objective of the organization is to promote education amongst children, specifically girls, who are out of school and belong to marginalized and excluded communities.
Mahita consists of team of social scientists with substantial experience in gender, education, human rights, livelihood and humanitarian work. The group has a strong belief that education is not mere literacy, but an awakening of the mind. Childrenhave the best opportunities when educated and empowered.
Sikshana Foundation: Making Poverty History
Pushphlata was brought up in a single parent home living below the poverty line (less than $22 per month) in the Bangalore slums. Since her childhood she was determined to secure a degree in Commerce and become a Chartered Accountant.
Though she could not avoid the familyh tradition of marrying early, her perserverance with her studies enabled her to secure a First Class in pre-university examinations. She completed her Degree course in Commerce with a First Class while also becoming the mother of two children. Today she is working as an intern at an accounting firm and supporting her family. Her husband is a daily wage labourer.
What brough Pushplata this far is her sheer grit and determination, and the support of the Shiksana Foundation, an organization that has supported her through scholarships and useful mentoring since 2003.
CAF India supports Shiksana and many such nonprofits across the country that are providing solutions and handholding to poor children impacted by educational inequities.
Sikshana Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka:
Founded in 2003, Sikshana Foundation is an offshoot of Sivasri Charitable Trust, Bangalore that nurtures rural government primary and secondary schools to improve the quality of education they deliver. Its activities encourage children, teachers and the community to work together to improve the learning levels in schools. One of Sikshana Foundation’s core programs focuses on equipping children with four basic life skills: the ability to read, write, compute and express. The program is being run in over 250 schools and includes a unique concept of providing each school with a laptop, and every child with a flash drive.
The impact of this model has been even great than typical computer aided learning in the areas of empowerment and ownership among the children. Further, because the people behind the foundation are computer professionals, they have been able to provide customized software which has been shown to enhance the creative potential of children. The program distinguishes itself by keeping the focus not on the technology used but on the outcomes generated by its use.
Jyoti is a 12 year old child who lives in the Tahirpur Leprosy Colony in Delhi. Her father suffers from the disease and has an ulcer on his legs. He earns daily wages by pulling rickshaws.
Jyoti is aware of her father’s dream to see her become a doctor and treat patients like him. Unfortunately because of the family’s weak financial position, Jyoti was forced to drop out of school after 7th grade.
It was in this difficult moment of despair and hopelessness that her mother came across The Leprosy Mission Trust India (TLMTI). Dedicated to empowering lives impacted by leprosy, the Leprosy Mission sponsored Jyoti’s education after necessary screening and assessment. Today, Jyoti is happy to be in school again. The tears that once filled her eyes have been replaced by a dream of becoming a doctor.
CAF India supports TLMTI and many such non profits across the country that are committed to working for the economic empowerment of leprosy affected families and those facing disability and gender discrimination.
The Leprosy Mission Trust India, Delhi:
TLMTI has an impressive 136 year history and is one of the largest and most reputable organizations in India working in leprosy reduction and prevention. The global vision of TLMTI is a world without leprosy and its goal to eradicate the causes and consequences of the disease.
TLMTI has a presence in 9 States (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka) of India. It provides holistic care through its hospitals, 6 vocational training centers, and 20 community based projects. TMLI also works towards educational and economic development through the “Catch them Young” program, where young boys and girls, especially from leprosy background, are supported with financial assistance to enable them complete their education.
TLMTI is also committed to the economic empowerment of those affected by leprosy and those marginalised due to other reasons such as disability and gender. The organization has been partnering with individuals managing skills training and income generation initiatives since the early 90’s.
Give Now to the Tara Education Fund and make sure that children continue to have access to the education they need to thrive.