This NGO From Mumbai Helps Thousands Of Students Every Year By Giving Them Stationery Materials For Education

We may remember our childhood when we used to go school with backpacks on our shoulders, holding a little umbrella or water bottle in our hands. But there are children who are deprived of all these material facilities required for their studies. Indian Development Foundation (IDF), an NGO based in Mumbai, decided to help these students by donating them stationery materials. Extending a helping hand to thousands of students who are deprived of basic needs for their education, they came up with an initiative called ‘Aashayein‘ in 2014.

What is Aashayein?

Aashayein which means ‘ray of hope’ is an initiative exclusively for underprivileged children. It facilitates these students with books and stationery materials for their education during the beginning of every academic year.

With their prime focus being education, the organisers make sure that these children never fall short of materials to study. They also visit every school to make sure that each kit reaches the student. The kits are made according to the need of the students as shared by the teacher-in-charge.

A drive was launched in Mumbai and the volunteers managed to reach students in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. Each stationery kit contains school bags, notebooks, pens, pencils, drawing books, writing pads, geometry sets, colours, etc.

“The drive started in 2014 and 77 students were benefited by this initiative in the same year. In 2015, the number stood 777 and in 2015, it reached out to 3,777 students. Last year, Aashayein could help 15,000 students from financially backward condition from different parts of the country,” said Shashank Shetty, director of Ball Gurukuls or Education programmes of Indian Development Foundation to The Logical Indian.

Aashayein 2018

“This year, our aim is to gift stationery materials to 25,000 children. One kit costs Rs 300. It contains all the materials required for the whole academic year,” Shashank said.

Adopting a village

Indian Development Foundation also plans to adopt a village under Aashayein this year. The areas of focus would be education, environment, skill development, agriculture, and cleanliness. “We have shortlisted four villages from Maharashtra and will select one of them for adoption. We would like to continue this initiative in the coming years too. Other NGOs or individuals who would like to take part of it can join hands with us. Our sole aim is development,” Shashank said.

How can you help?

An individual or organisation can support Aashayein by volunteering in various activities like stationary kit making, stationary distribution, making creative materials, etc.

The organisers of Aashayein have invited donations from helping hands. One can donate stationery materials for a selected number of kids or can adopt a tribal region to support all the kids in that area. The members of the NGO want to continue this humanitarian gesture in the coming years too.