UF Children's Hope India

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ufchi — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:17:00 +0000

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UF CHI’s social business sells to Coca Cola

ufchi — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:00:52 +0000

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.

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. The business looks to sell bags to other corporations in the US and India in the future. The business also currently sells bags to individuals through kiosks in Delhi, India

UF CHI and Prayas join forces to form social business

ufchi — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:43:12 +0000

UF CHI and Prayas India have partnered to form a social business. This partnership will link the U.S. based organization with one of India’s most highly regarded non-profit organizations. The goal of the social business is to provide sustainable solutions for poverty, not one time fixes. The social business gives impoverished women the ability to learn valuable life skills and make a living. Besides extensive training and competitive salary, the women are also given the opportunity to take out microloans in the future. Without something like this in place many would be forced to live in extreme poverty with little hope of breaking the cycle. The business also has the added benefit of supporting itself: all of the revenue goes back to the business for expansion and new initiatives. It is certainly a social business for sustainable societal change.

8/10/08: And our Journey Begins

ufchi — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:54:32 +0000

The day before the long awaited trip is finally here! It is hard to believe 8 months ago we started with a vision to create a social enterprise and that tomorrow, everything will come full circle. International conference calls, tax ID numbers, bank accounts, new member recruitment, fundraising, goal setting, setbacks, reevaluation, visas, vaccinations, and finally success. The experience to get here has been unlike any other college experience.

Stay tuned for the adventure to come! Without a doubt, we will be making and getting the most out of our trip and we’re excited to have you aboard! Thank you so much for all the supporters who believed from the start we could do it! You will see the ripple effects of your generosity spread across the globe as each day, we will be your tour guide into the lives of these children through our blogs.

Today marks the successful completion of our first day. After hours upon hours of delay at the airport, loss of luggage in New York, and a whirlwind day running on adrenaline, we’ve made it to India!

Unfortunately the fun doesn’t stop – we are literally running out the door to receive a new phone for emergencies and have less than 20 minutes to do so. We will certainly keep you posted on our first day’s adventures soon….

8/11/08: We’re Here!

ufchi — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:51:29 +0000

8/13/08: Honking Along in India

ufchi — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:46:28 +0000

Hey all, Brian here. We left quickly last night in an effort to purchase minutes for an emergency use phone, but to our disappointment it ended in failure due to a hindrance in comprehending Hindi. Needless to say, we’ll be heading back to the marketplace tomorrow evening with our friend, Arushi, who will assist in breaching the language barrier.

Upon arriving in Delhi after an escapade of missed connections and delayed flights, we arrived safely and met Akhilesh Sharma, Children’s Hope India’s project manager. Bernard and Melissa’s luggage were waiting patiently, but the airplane deities were not smiling upon me that night and it ultimately took three days to reclaim the lost luggage. For you hygienic readers out there, you’d be amazed at the wondrous smells one’s body produces when doused in nothing but deodorant, Deet Bug Spray, and an ample amount of 70 SPF Sunscreen for a few days on end without showering! Wednesday’s mission was to visit Prayas Juvenile Aid Center, a remarkable non-profit organization affecting thousands of youth and women throughout India. We were able to sit down and learn much from Amod Kanth, Prayas’ General Secretary and one of its earliest founders. H.N. Sahay, Prayas’ Director for the Institute of Economic Empowerment was able to convey a great deal of information about microfinance and women’s self help groups, two amazing programs with a possibility of transforming the economic landscape of India’s poverty-stricken communities.

Delhi is truly unlike anything I’ve yet to encounter. At the times the constant honking of horns is an entirely different language in and of itself as dozens of miniature cars compete for a six foot space in the middle of the road, coming mere inches from crashing into one another. As four-hundred pound cattle casually walk across a three lane highway we have to smile at such surprising sight. This could never happen in America – but here it’s just another part of life. Nonetheless, the future possibilities for sustainable aid are tremendous and our appetite for knowledge only grows each day. This is an endeavor far greater than any of us could have imagined at the forefront almost seven months ago. I’m excited to wholeheartedly put our minds and bodies to work: after combining a wee bit of humor, an immense amount of Americana zeal, and a fascination for the unknown, this will be one remarkable adventure.

Till next time,
Brian

8/14/08: Only a Minor Bump in the Road

ufchi — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:45:38 +0000

In suit with previous days, our morning kicked off to an interesting start. I was woken early by Brian who needed to leave for the airport to recover his lost luggage. However, our taxi driver from the previous day was not there and was replaced by a new driver. The language barrier kept our new driver from understanding any of the directions we attemptted to convey so with courage and little hesitation, Brian decided to leave. Two hours later Bernard and I were still waiting patiently for his return to the apartment, with no way of reaching him without a phone, when luckily, Arushi, a college student coordinating with us from Jesus & Mary College, called our housekeeper and agreed to come pick us up. In the meantime she decided to take us to another NGO school her mom volunteers at. We left a note back at the apartment with our housekeeper to instruct the taxi driver where to take Brian to meet us. Although we both felt slightly uneasy, Bernard and I left the apartment and used the extra excursion as an opportunity to learn more while we waited for Brian’s call.

The school we were brought to houses over 100 children and provides them with 2 quality meals, education and some form of vocational training/artistic skill each day. We were mesmerized by the level of artistic abilities demonstrated by the children. They had all been taught how to sew, draw mehandi and design other forms of pottery and marketable skills. By affording impoverished children with these few skills, this NGO offers students the opportunity and ability to succeed in a profession which would otherwise not be available to them. As we went to leave the school, the lyrics from the song the children sung to us resonated within my head…”live in the moment, be happy and grateful for what has been bestowed upon you.”

Finally, with 2 suit cases in his possession and 4 hours later, we were able to reconvene with Brian and head to Shadipur Depot, the Children’s Hope facility. Unfortunately, the rains were so terrible that by the time we reached the colony the roads were too flooded to allow passage to the site. With great disappointment, we decided to drive back in the direction of Arushi’s home to discuss our plans for the following days. The rest of the day was spent traveling through busy Indian traffic, making curriculum copies, shopping for materials and brainstorming on how we can most effectively carry out our program’s mission. At the end of the day, we remained hopeful, confident and excited with anticipation for the commencement of our program.

Signing off,

Melissa

8/15/08: We Like our Independence!

ufchi — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:43:48 +0000

Today marked India’s 61st anniversary of Independence, and what a great time it was to be here! We celebrated its political independence in a unique way: India’s independence from strife and turmoil. Secretary General Kanth, the founder of Prayas, conveyed it best, “Today we do not celebrate our independence from foreigners and outside influences. Today we celebrate India’s independence from poverty, illiteracy, child labor and trafficking, and sicknesses.” The day filled itself with events to personify his words, including cultural dances, songs, and skits performed by the boys and girls of the Jan Shikshan Sansthan Prayas center and Prayas Head Office. Over 10 performances graced the stage, as they embodied themes of celebrating in the moment, living without the fear of child labor, and rejoicing in the culture and country that surrounds them.

In a way, India’s Independence Day also brought a sort of independence for us too as we stepped out of comfort zones and challenged ourselves to new heights. We danced with the children performers on stage to Indian music in front of hundreds of individuals. For the first time, we got to try traditional South Indian food, which spiced our taste buds and enriched our appetite. And most importantly, meetings with top individuals such as Secretary General Kanth, Dr. Ali (Praya’s Executive Director), Ms. Arun Grover (the Director of Jan Shikshan Sansthan Prayas and Praya’s Banker), and Pawar (The Head of Delhi University’s Art Department) launched talks about future plans for micro – financing and additional educational initiatives, making our remaining time here more valuable and precious with followup meetings and dinner arrangements.

Independence Day: Our day to celebrate life, freedom, and the challenges/opportunities we face, overcome, and grow from. In our group’s case, we are excited and ready for the next step in planning to positively touch the lives of India’s children.

Seeing you soon,
Bernard

8/16/08: Establishing a Foundation

ufchi — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:43:20 +0000

India’s Independence Day festivities brought forth a happy idealism about freedom from poverty, health anxiety, and despair. It was an afternoon of joyous dancing and celebration that carried into Saturday, the day of Rakhi. Today marked our preliminary expedition to Kathputli Colony in Shadipur Depot, a slum within Pandav Nagar in West Delhi. An artisan colony with a plethora of talented migrant workers skilled in acrobatics, folkdance, and puppetry, it is also home to approximately 2,500 adolescent children victim to societal maltreatment and parental neglect. We were greeted at CHI’s main office with traditional Indian hospitality and offered time for rest, food, and drink before progressing on with our research for the afternoon. Words are unable to reveal the sights witnessed throughout our tour of the community. Children bathed nude in alleyways using collected rainwater from previous afternoons while animal feces littered the streets where food was sold and consumed by the impoverished inhabitants. Nonetheless, these are also immensely proud individuals. At every home visited, puppeteers and craftsmen greeted us warmly and delighted in the opportunity to showcase their skill. Children approached us with grinning smiles and outstretched arms, asking for our name and a willing handshake.

It is necessary to advocate Secretary General Kanth’s message of independence by establishing a firm foundation of education for these children. The remainder of our afternoon was spent forging a relationship with Children’s Hope India’s managers and devising key initiatives to aid in each child’s development. Our initial efforts will be focused on computer education, behavioral development, basic economics, and the importance of personal savings. By uniting with Prayas, aspiring collegiate chapters throughout the United States, and our CHI network, we will achieve the goal of independence from poverty Mr. Kanth laid out so eloquently one day prior. Rather than viewing Kathputli Colony as desolate and impoverished, we are focusing our efforts on the community’s future change-agents: its children.

Cheers,
Brian

8/17/08: Crunch Time

ufchi — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:41:55 +0000

Our tentative plans for Sunday afternoon had originally involved visiting one of the “great wonders of the world,” the Taj Mahal. Unfortunately, the travel time from Delhi would take over 9 hours round- trip and did not provide us with enough time to work on polishing the curriculum before the first day of classes. Although we were all a little bummed that we would be missing out on an amazing experience, we all agreed that our semester-long efforts on the curriculum was our primary focus for this trip. We knew that education for the children in Kathputli Colony was the only course for changing the status quo and eradicating the extreme poverty in that region.

Amongst the commotion of typical daytime traffic in India, a motorcyclist rear-ended our taxi car on our way to the marketplace. Luckily, the accident involved no injuries or damage to the vehicle. Torn between shock and humor, the three of us brushed off the minor incident and carried forth with the day. Thus, the rest of the afternoon was spent doing final research in an internet café, performing classroom trial runs and perfecting each of our lesson plans.

That evening, we enjoyed a tasty Indian dinner prepared for us by Dyhan Singh, our cheerful guesthouse cook, and discussed what each of us envisioned for the rest of the trip. With a few minor bumps encountered along the way, we were all pleased with the valuable research we had obtained thus far and shared our confidence in achieving our mission for this visit. We knew that the next few days spent teaching would not only be an unforgettable experience for each of us, but it would build a foundation for the children in Kathputli Colony that could truly transform their lives forever.

Till next time,
Melissa