Currently, UF Children’s Hope India is looking to improve each of its three areas of focus.

Better Education Through Technology

Excelling in today’s business world requires an extensive knowledge of technology, specifically computing.  Many children in India don’t have access to computers.  UF Children’s Hope India looks to fill this void by obtaining computer donations for our Prayas educational facility.  Our goal is to add 20 new laptops to our Prayas facility to aid in our technology education cirriculum.  The additional computers will provide hands on experience for children in the facility and their parents working in our social business.  UF CHI feels that this will provide a vital link to success for our students.

Social Business Expansion

After training over 15 women to produce high quality, environmentally friendly handbags, UF CHI has made it’s first major sale.  The social business has contracted to sell over 1,200 jute bags to Coca Cola.  The bags will be produced solely by employees of the social business and customized to meet Coca Cola’s need.  The sale is a landmark transaction for not only UF CHI, but social businesses across the world.  Support from a major corporation proves that the business model implemented by UF CHI and Prayas is viable and mutually beneficial to employees and clients.

Forging this major sale to Coca Cola, UF CHI looks to only grow from here.  All of the revenue from the project will be reinvested into the business.  This will provide capital to expand into other projects, provide more jobs for impoverished women and increase funds for microloans.  Not only that, but UF CHI looks to revamp the business this year by improving marketing efforts internationally.

Improving our Internship Program

The past two summers UF CHI has successfully completed two internship programs.  Each spanned two weeks in length and include two University of Florida students.  Looking to expand upon this success this summer UF CHI looks to send four students to India for over six weeks.  The internship structure will include three weeks of intensive training with Prayas, our non-profit partner.  Training will include learning more about how to run a social business and efficiency studies to ensure that our funds are being used properly.  After completing training with Prayas, the students will teach a three week curriculum to children in our Dehli facility focusing on core skills for success.