Raised: 98%
Target: £3,000.00
Raised so far: £2,935.00
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My story

 

An Appeal for the empowerment of some of the most marginalised people in India.
 
A small team of volunteers are intending to visit India for up to 3 months in December, to teach English to  students who are training to communicate the vision of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar among communities of marginalised people in India. This year, there will be a follow-on from the work of the TESL team of last year. A smaller team will be managed by Aryagita from New Zealand, who has a long-term commitment to provide this service to the trainees of the Nagarjuna Training Institute, Nagpur. Her team includes Sinhendra from Spain, and a number of other trained teachers from the UK and her native New Zealand.
 
Dr. Ambedkar, the great leader of 'low-caste' (Dalit) people, is seen by them as a liberator, visionary and exemplary role-model. From an 'Untouchable' background, by his own great efforts he became one of the most highly educated men in India, and the architect of the Indian Constitution. Still experiencing  discrimination within Hinduism, he embraced Buddhism along with thousands of his followers, as a means of self-development and personal growth free from the shadow of casteism.
 
The students of the Nagarjuna Training Institute (NTI), Nagpur, are prepared to take his message of freedom, dignity and access to social improvement to thousands of poor people who are Dr. Ambedkar's followers, all over India. The students themselves are from these marginalised communities. At present, the skill which will give these 'barefoot teachers/social workers' a means of self-support, communication anywhere in India, confidence and access to study materials, is fluency in English.

To people who struggle for access to the basic necessities of life, knowledge of English is a high-value skill. It can become a key to unlock the social, economic, and psychological prisons of caste and poverty, for the students themselves and the people they will work with and teach. This is what our volunteer group are aiming to give them, this year and in future years. Although we aim to be self-financing as far as possible, funds are needed to provide teaching materials (books, worksheets, powerpoint projector etc.)  and possibly help with travel. The materials will form a resource bank for future years too. Your support will be greatly appreciated, and could transform the lives of thousands of poor and oppressed people.

Giving a donation is very quick and easy - simply click above. Thank you.

With love, Shakyajata

Donation by Dhiraprabha 18/04/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

with metta Donation by Maitrimala 26/03/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

I can't believe how close you are to your target, this is amazing, very proud! This money is on behalf of me and my Dad Asangashila (John). xxx Donation by Naveli 23/12/08  

£200.00 + £56.41 Gift Aid

Go Aunty Sue Donation by Bonnie & Alex 11/12/08  

£20.00

Have a wonderful time - good luck Donation by Gill,Pete,Christian & Sophie 04/12/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good on you Sue, keep up the good work!! xx Donation by Pete & Shirl 29/11/08  

£10.00

good luck sue ! have some brains for fred before you go !! Donation by judith and fred 28/11/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

I say woo, I say woo, I say woo, woo, woo!!! Donation by Cath & Bruce 26/11/08  

£20.00

What a fabulous opportunity - enjoy x Donation by Carol 24/11/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good on you Sue! Enjoy x Donation by Jan and Sue 23/11/08  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

You're doing a great job. Well done Donation by Jane 21/11/08  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Best of luck Julie Donation by Peter 21/11/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good luck Sue! Donation by Jane and Richard Jones 19/11/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

A great project, enjoy the experience Donation by Steve S 18/11/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck with the project, an amazing experience! Donation by Eleanor & Simon 18/11/08  

£20.00

Hope all goes well Julie Donation by Alison Gillies 17/11/08  

£20.00

best of luck Sue Donation by Anonymous 17/11/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Worth every penny Donation by Jan Usher 17/11/08  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

I'm inspired by this project! Donation by Olga Kenyon 16/11/08  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

How brave you are, and how worthy the cause! Sending a blessing of ease and success! Donation by Nicola 14/11/08  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Nice one Sue. Getting closer to that target, I see. Hope this helps. Donation by Capp 14/11/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Good for you Sue!!!! Donation by Deb & Steve Scholey 13/11/08  

£20.00

A wonderful project - hope its as rewarding for you as we're sure it will be for all those lovely people you are going to meet! Donation by Melody & Pete 12/11/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

may you and they all benefit Donation by anonymous 09/11/08  

£20.00

With peace and love Donation by Louise Wiseman 08/11/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Julie, best of luck, I think this is brilliant - keep in touch and let us know how you get on. x Donation by Siobhan 07/11/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Lots of good luck with this marvellous project.I look forward to hearing all about it Donation by Gail 07/11/08  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

good luck with this inspiring project Donation by Keith Green 07/11/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Glad to see you've got a team together, Shakyajata! G€ood luck. I may join you after my gap year finishes, 31 October 2009 Donation by Kalyanavaca 06/11/08  

£20.00

Good luck, Ken and friends. Donation by Stewart 06/11/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
Donate now
 
* Total raised online: £2,935.00
  Offline donations: £0.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £723.18

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