INDIAN SCHOOL CARD SALES

HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN IN NEED SUPPORT POOR AND ITS SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN INDIA

WHAT IS POOR?

POOR IS A SMALL NGO OPERATING IN INDIA. IT BEGAN AS AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE PROBLEMS FACED IN RURAL AREAS. THE NEED FOR SUPPORT FOR ORPHANS, THE DESPERATE SITUATION OF ABANDONED WOMEN, AND INADEQUATE SCHOOL FACILITIES FUELED A NEED TO TAKE ACTION, AND IN TURN THE CREATION OF POOR. 

What does POOR stand for?

Poverty alleviation
Orphans and old age care
Opportunities for all
Relief and rehabilitation

MISSION STATEMENT

All human beings have the right to the basic necessities of life and the means to develop to their full potential, physically, mentally, and spiritually. This all-round development will help promote health, peace, and social harmony. Only then will people realize that they are members of one universal family. This is our mission.

CURRENT PROJECTS

POOR has helped strengthen a number of projects serving communities in need. POOR is currently providing support to several rural schools with attached orphanages in Northern Bengal, Nagaland, Jharkand, and Orissa.

BUT THERE’S STILL LOTS LEFT TO DO…

The schools are still in need of basic commodities including; the installation of electric lines, water pumps, fans for the classrooms, repairs on leaking roofs, desks and chairs, blackboards, and teaching materials.

FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES

In order to raise funds, POOR is selling greeting cards painted by the orphans living in the schools. All income generated from sales will be used to improve the schools and orphanages. Cards are sold in packs of 10 for 1,000yen per pack.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Buy some greeting cards! Or better yet, help sell the greeting cards and promote awareness about POOR and its activities! For more information contact Jennifer Hobbs at gomadcardsales@gmail.com

FUNDRAISING

Please Click here for fundraising tips.

CASE STUDIES

SCHOOL#1

Location
Ranaghat, a village of about 5,000 people in West Bengal. The village is comprised of agricultural workers, all very poor. Many of the children are malnourished. 

The Story
The principal, Ananda Svarupa, has been working at the school for six months. She cares for one orphan, Gitika, and two boarders. Seventy-two children are enrolled in the school. Ten of them have not yet been able to pay their fees due to dire poverty. 

What is needed
There is a hand pump, but the water quality is poor. The borehole is not deep enough and as a result the water contains unsafe amounts of iron. Funds are needed to deepen the borehole, thus improve the quality of the water.

The school building has no electricity. An electric line needs to be installed. In the summer it is so hot that the children cannot sit still during lessons. As a result, school ends at noon. Three fans are needed for the classrooms. The entire school is in need of renovations. The walls need plastering, the roof leaks, and the classrooms need windows. The school has land, so could grow food, but in order to do this, a fence is needed to keep out animals and thieves.

SCHOOL #2

Location
Salsalabari, a village in North Bengal.

The story
This school has been running for the past 20 years in a rented building. The principal, Soma, hopes to buy land to build a new school. The school building consists of one long hall that is partitioned into three classrooms. There is a principal’s office and a small play area outside. There is one blackboard. The electric supply is not dependable, and power cuts are frequent. Thirty-one children attend the school. 

What is needed
The children attending the school are not able to pay their fees regularly, thus there is hardly enough money to pay the teachers salaries let alone provide Soma with an income. As a result Soma is weak because she is not eating properly. Her clothing supply is also inadequate. Soma needs a sponsor to help pay for her basic needs. The school needs four more blackboards, tables, and chairs. The school is also in need of a van. More children would like to attend the school but live too far away to come on foot, so a van is needed for transportation.