One School At A Time
Many people (including me) firmly believe that rural education is the key to India’s success in the coming years. But unfortunately, UNESCO puts India’s adult literacy rate at a dismal 61%. Numerous organizations are working tirelessly to fill this void. OSAAT is one of them.
OSAAT – “One school at a time” is a California based volunteer run organization which picks one school in rural India every year and provides financial help to better the school’s infrastructure. Their focus is simple: the school should be serving many children, should be running for several years and should have infrastructure issues which have not been dealt with for a long time.
OSAAT was started in the SF bay in 2003 and has helped re-build three schools since then - one in Bannerghatta, another in Bajagoli and the third one in Nazarbad. In 2009, they are planning to help two schools.
OSAAT has a bunch of very talented and motivated people working for them in California as well as in India. Most of the funds they generate are via concerts and competitions which they organize in and around the SF bay area. I was in one of their Kannada music concerts yesterday, and when I was about to buy the ticket, I saw that the concert’s proceedings went to OSAAT. Which meant that I was getting entertained and I was helping kids in India. I can’t ask for more!
Check out their project report on the Bannerghatta school after the break!
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Very interesting read… Its good to know people abroad do care for these things.. It inspires one to actually do something and feel like contributing more… thanks and keep posting… :)
@Shwetha: Looks like you did not expect people abroad to care :)
Actually your comment has inspired me to write a series of articles on NGOs abroad helping India.. keep reading!
Dear OSSAT,
Vigyan Ashram conducts rural technology courses in tribal schools all over Maharashtra, India and they have a website. They have a plan to cover 100 rural schools and have been able to cover 64 schools till date and res looking for sponsors. The course is known as Introduction to Basic Technology where 8th 9th and 10th std students are given training in agriculture, Electrical, Plimbing, Carpentry etc. These courses are recognisd by Maharshtra Education borad and this project of Lend a Hand India has adopted some schools and some corporates also have adopted. Pl check the website, U can get more information
Good project as it will help children in skill training
Thanks