Mann Deshi Foundation, Mhaswad, Indiahttp://www.manndeshifoundation.org
Target: $96,706.90
Raised so far: $42,972.28
Mann Deshi Foundation, Mhaswad, Indiahttp://www.manndeshifoundation.org
global givingProjects on JustGiving are provided in partnership with GlobalGiving UK. Donations to projects are subject to the same 10% fee as they are on GlobalGiving. Find out how this works
Each year these projects provide 400 bicycles to girls in rural Maharashtra so they can continue their education. Otherwise they are unable to visit the school because they live too far away.
In rural areas of India more than 50% of girls drop out of school after Class 5. Although school is free, transport costs deter rural families from sending girls to school. These families seek a mobile solution to make education a reality for their daughters.
In order to offer girls a chance at an education, we provide bicycles at a 0% interest loan. Mann Deshi also donates the bicycle to the girls whose family do not afford loan.
The girls deserve the chance to go to school; only through education can they become independent and successful, and be released from poverty and repression. As ongoing projects, we try to give 400 bicycles to girls each year, allowing them to continue their schooling.
vanita shinde
Give A Girl A Bike: Help Her Go To School Dear Mann Deshi Friends and Supporters, Thank you for your continued support of the Bicycle Project. 100 Rural School Girls are getting BICYCLES on the occasion of Women's Day. Your support will help them to continue their higher education. For more information please click on : http://youtu.be/zndJuqJ9JMU We greatly appreciate all the support you have given us so far and hope that you will help us to make this program successful by providing grants to buy a girl a bicycle. Your generous donation will support these young girls to dream whatever they wish and also motivate to choose the option like becoming engineer. Sincerely,
Chetna Sinha
Dear Mann Deshi Friends and Supporters,
Thank you for your continued support of the Bicycle Project.
100 Rural School Girls are getting BICYCLES on the occasion of Women’s Day. Your support will help them to continue their higher education. For more information please click on : http://youtu.be/zndJuqJ9JMU
“I want to become an engineer”. This was an aspiration of Ms. Swapa Bhandare. Mann Deshi started Freedom Ride program in support of girls for who wish to continue higher education. Lack of transport facilities force girls to drop out from school after 7th grade. The Mann Deshi Foundation has provided bicycle to thousands of girls. Bicycle program helps them to travel and continue high school. After high school they also enter graduate program. Mann Deshi also organizes career development workshop for these girls. In one of the workshop Ms. Bhandare said, “Without bicycle I would have dropped out of the school and would have become wage laborers in fields.” High schools education brought aspiration to these young girls. In career development workshop one of them said “I want to become an engineer”
On the occasion of Women’s Day, 8th March, 2013 Mann Deshi is distributing 100 bicycles to rural school girls. We greatly appreciate all the support you have given us so far and hope that you will help us to make this program successful by providing grants to buy a girl a bicycle.
Your generous donation will support these young girls to dream whatever they wish and also motivate to choose the option like becoming engineer.
Most Sincerely,
Mann Deshi Foundation
chetna sinha
Dear Mann Deshi Supporters,
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
“Give a girl bike, Change her Life”: Mann Deshi has given bicycle to more than 4000 girls. Bike gives these girls an opportunity to carry on their advanced education.
“A Hope in the time of Drought-Mann Deshi Catte Camp” : Today, people are migrating from Mann Taluka, not in search of employment but in search of drinking water. Mann taluka is facing an acute drought situation in more than 185 villages. Since last 24 months there is no rain. In such a situation it is crucially needed to provide water to households by tankers and to arrange fodder and water in cattle camps in the areas.
“B-School at woman’s doorstep”: Mann Deshi Bank with B-school together has been able to reach +155,000 women and have provided them capital and business training. 60% of women have been able to start and expand their business successfully.
This would not have been possible without our supporters and partners. And as we come to the end of another successful year, we want to thank those who have contributed to Mann Deshi’s success.
The Mann Deshi aims to provide underprivileged rural women with the resources they need to improve their lives. Mann Deshi works holistically to improve slummy women’s lives through a variety of financial services, business trainings and skills.
Thus, we hope that you remember Mann Deshi when you think about buying gifts this holiday season. Any donations you make will have a direct impact on the disadvantaged rural women and girls we serve, allowing them to improve their lives: your donation would truly be a gift that kept on giving.
Mann Deshi currently has three projects linked with Global Giving, a US and UK based organization that connects people with the countries and causes they are passionate about. Global Giving is registered under 501c3 so that US donors receive tam exemptions. For this donation Mann Deshi Foundation is registered under 80G and also has tax exemption. Your tax-deductible donation will be wired directly to Mann Deshi Foundation from Global Giving.
The projects you can contribute to are:
1. The Freedom Ride Bicycle Program for Girls provides bicycles to girls in remote locations so that they can travel to school, and therefore complete their education
For "GlobalGiving US" site, project report is located at:
http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/girls-education-through-bicycles-in-india/updates/
For "GlobalGiving UK" site, project report is located at: http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/pr/2000/proj1963d.html
2. Mann Deshi Udyogini (B-school for rural women in india) brings life skills and financial training to poor rural wage laborers, empowering them to become successful businesswomen.
http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/business-school1/
3. Mann Deshi Catte Camp : A Hope in the time of Drought. The Biggest cattle camp in India, providing water and fodder to animals. 2012 also went out without rain. No drop of rain since last two years.
For "GlobalGiving" site, your project report is located at: http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/mann-deshi-cattle-camp/updates/
For "GlobalGiving UK" site, Your project report is located at: http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/pr/10700/proj10685d.html
To make an anonymous donation, a donation on behalf of another person, or to donate as a gift in a friend's name, please visit www.globalgiving.com and search "Mann Deshi Foundation", or go directly to Mann Deshi's link: http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/business-school1/
With many thanks and warm wishes for a wonderful Christmas holiday season and New Year.
Happy Holidays,
Yours Sincerely,
Chetna
Vanita Shinde
“My teacher gives punishment to me, as I reach school late”, Says, Rupali, age 15 years old.
Rupa says, “My school is 3 km far from my home. As I walk daily to the school, sometimes I reach late. And teacher gives punishment to me. My Mother & Father expired when I was four years old. I have one brother & sister. I am younger one. My sister got married. I & my brother live with our grandfather & grandmother.
I always felt lonely as like other girls I do not have mother & father to take care. I saw other girls coming by bicycle and always felt that, if I also have cycle, I will reach school on time and the teacher will not punish me.
One day I was at “Mann Deshi Cattle Camp” with my grandfather and grandmother. I saw that Ms. Asha (another girl on Cattle Camp) got a bicycle from the Mann Deshi Foundation. I asked Asha, why the Mann Deshi Foundation gave you a bicycle? What is the idea behind it?
I understood that the Mann Deshi Foundation donates bicycles to the poor, needy girls, so that they can continue their education. I came to the Mann Deshi with my grandfather & grandmother and apply for a bicycle.”
After seeing her condition Mann Deshi donated bicycle to Rupa. While donating bicycle Rupa told, “This was my dream to have a bicycle. I always felt bad that I get punishment from my teacher. Now nobody will punish me and bicycle will help me to reach the school in time. I am in 10th grade now. My grandfather & mother are very old. I want to become an independent as earliest as I can. I would like to become a stick for my grandfather & grandmother and support them. ”
Thanks to the supporters of Mann Deshi Bicycle Program. Because of you the girls like Rupa can see & achieve their dream.
Chetna Sinha
Asha´s story (Girl in Mann Deshi Cattle Camp)
One day I was wandering in our Mann Deshi Cattle Camp and saw a little girl with glasses caring for some animals. It was working all alone, cutting sugarcane to feed the cattle, cleaning cow dung away and giving water to the animals. I started wondering: “Why is she doing everything alone? She looks so fragile with her big glasses, so weak”.
I stopped there and started to ask her all questions that came in my mind. I was curious about her situation and wanted to know more.
She told me that her name is Asha. Eleven years old Asha lives in Bonewadi, a small town with her mother, two sisters, and one brother. One sister is married already and the other sister is going to marry tomorrow (28.06.2012). Because of this marriage, the mother is busy and Asha is left alone to care for the cattle. Her Father died some years ago already due to an illness. Asha is still in school, she attends 6 standards in a local village school in Diwad, 3km away from Bonewadi. She dreams of becoming a doctor after she finished her education.
Every day she has to walk the 3 km to school. After school, she has to feed the cattle and give them water in the Mann Deshi Cattle Camp, 7km away from where she lives. Sometimes one of her cousins drives her, sometimes she can pay a rikshaw but if she has no spare money she has to walk the 7km home. Then at home she has to help her mother in the household. This is her daily routine; every day she goes to school first, then cares for the cattle and then works at home. She starts her day at 7am, works during the day and studies until 10pm in the night.
She wants to become a doctor but how can she do it? How will she have the money to go to university? She does not even have proper time for learning. Why does she have so many problems, why is her live so difficult?
Asha is born in a farmer’s family that own 11 acres of land. Normally from this land they could earn enough money to make a living, but because it did not rain last year and the drought is not new to Mann Taluka, the harvest failed and the family got no income. Her mother works as a wage laborer in Vasai, Thane, and now to earn at least some money for the family. Because both of her sisters are married (or will be tomorrow), young Asha is the only one left to take care of the cattle, the most valuable assets they have left. Asha´s glasses have a power of 8, leaving hear almost blind without them. Having this handicap makes it even harder for her to do all her tasks during the day. Her both sisters married very young; Asha does not like this. She wants to finish her education, become a doctor and only afterwards start a family.
It is a beautiful dream of such a determined young girl.
Looking at her I think:” will it be ever possible for her to become this doctor?”
Mann Deshi Foundation helped Asha by donating bicycle, so that at least she can continue her higher education. We cannot do everything, but can do something with the help of our partners.
Please click below the links of Mann Deshi Cattle Camp:
http://khabar.ndtv.com/video/show/ndtv-india-documentary/241665
http://youtu.be/8IrZObP7wCE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IrZObP7wCE
Articles:
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_hope-in-the-time-of-drought_1704703
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/257181/one-day-cattle-camp.html
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Maharashtra/Camps-to-the-rescue/Article1-908820.aspx
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/08/201282114048913295.html
Most Sincerely,
carole wenger
Balabai's Bicycle
Balabai is an 11 years old girl. She is one of the children who acquired a bicycle from Mann Deshi. She, and the 10 members of her family, is living all together in a house around Masalwadi village. Balabai has 7 sisters. Unfortunately, her mother died a few years ago so her and her 7 sisters are living with their father who has to take care of them alone. Her father is a goat and sheep breeder; he also works in the field.
Balabai is in the 5 standard and she passed her last year with a second grade. Her house is at 4 km distance from school and before having a bicycle she had to walk the all way every day as there is no bus facility in her village. Now that she has a bicycle, she is saving a lot of time every day and she is using this free time to go to study for school and to do some housework. Balabai’s father wants her to pursue a higher education even though, they are very poor and he doesn’t know if he will be able to afford a higher education. All the money he earns is used to buy the necessary food for the family.
Balabai has 2 younger sisters who also go to school by bicycle with her. The bicycle is in fact useful for the three girls. Before hearing about the bicycle program, her family had no relation with the Mann Deshi Foundation and today when her friends are telling her that they also want a bicycle, she just answer: “yes, you will also go to Mann Deshi!”.
Ms. Carole Wenger
Nakusa Shivaji Masal : Zilha Parishad Primary School, Masalwadi :
Nakusa Shivaji Masal is a pupil in the school of Masalwadi, a small village close to Mhaswad. She is one of the children who had the chance to receive a bicycle from the Mann Deshi Foundation. Nakusa is twelve years old; she lives with her family and its seven members under a tent around the village since they are a very poor family. Nakusa is currently in her 7 standard. She passed with first class in the last year. She says that one of her special skills is to run. During the last years, she took part in a local competition and she succeed to arrive second at the 800 meter running and third at 900 meter running at a Taluka level. Beside the competition, she also likes to study for school.
Both her father, Shivaji Masal, and her mother, Nagabai Masal, are working in a brick factory far from the village. They are daily wage earner. Every day they are earning just enough money to buy the necessary food for their children. They have absolutely no security in case of problems like health issues for example.
Once, the Mobile Business School (another project conducted by Mann Deshi) came in her village. The staff from Mann Deshi was introducing the different projects conducted by Mann Deshi at that time, and they talked about the Bicycle Program. While Nakusa was listening to the staff presentation, she was wondering about how great it would be to have a bicycle to go to school and if she could be one of those little girl to receive a bicycle from Mann Deshi. Right after the presentation, she run to her school teacher and told her what her idea was. So, her teacher went to the Mann Deshi and told her about Nakusa request...and this is how Nakusa got her bicycle. As her mother takes part in a self-help-group in her village, she was already familiar with the Mann Deshi bank and foundation and therefore supported Nasuka in her request. Since then, she is enjoying her bicycle which changed her everyday life.
Nakusa lives at 3 km distance from school. As there are no transports facilities from where she lives to the school, she wouldn’t be able to arrive to school on time every day without her bicycle. She is the first child in her family to have a bicycle and she already inspired her smaller brother and sister. Her sister, who is now in the 4 standard, also comes to the school with Nakusa.
Nasuka says that, with her bicycle, she is able to save a lot of time that she can devote to other activities such as studying for school. When she got her bicycle, her friends asked her: “How have you done to get a bicycle?”. So Nakusa explain them about Mann Deshi and how she did to ask for her bicycle.
Mann Deshi hopes that a Nakusa story will encourage other children to acquire bicycle in order to go to school and accomplish their education. Nakusa’s parents are willing to help her to pursue a higher education.
Vanita Shinde
Dear Mann Deshi Donors and Supporters,
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
“Give a girl bike, Change her Life”: Mann Deshi has given bicycle to more than 2400 girls. Bike gives these girls an opportunity to carry on their advanced education.
“B-School at women’s doorstep”: Mann Deshi with B-school together has been able to reach +40,000 women and have provided them capital and business training. 60% of women have been able to start and expand their business successfully.
Achievements:
This would not have been possible without our supporters and partners. And as we come to the end of another successful year, we want to thank those who have contributed to Mann Deshi’s success.
The Mann Deshi aims to provide underprivileged rural women with the resources they need to improve their lives. Mann Deshi works holistically to improve slummy women’s lives through a variety of financial services, business trainings and skills.
Thus, we hope that you remember Mann Deshi when you think about buying gifts this holiday season. Any donations you make will have a direct impact on the disadvantaged rural women and girls we serve, allowing them to improve their lives: your donation would truly be a gift that kept on giving.
Mann Deshi currently has three projects linked with Global Giving, a US and UK based organization that connects people with the countries and causes they are passionate about. Global Giving is registered under 501c3 so that US donors receive tam exemptions. For this donation Mann Deshi Foundation is registered under 80G and also has tax exemption. Your tax-deductible donation will be wired directly to Mann Deshi Foundation from Global Giving. The projects you can contribute to are:
1. The Freedom Ride Bicycle Program for Girls provides bicycles to girls in remote locations so that they can travel to school, and therefore complete their education
http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/girls-education-through-bicycles-in-india/
http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/pr/2000/proj1963a.html
2. Mann Deshi Udyogini (B-school for rural women in india) brings life skills and financial training to poor rural wage laborers, empowering them to become successful businesswomen.
http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/business-school1/
3. Mann Deshi Champions (Sports Program) Mann Deshi's Champions Sports Program provides sport training to poor rural children, providing the opportunity to broaden their skills both physically and socially.
http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/mann-deshi-champions-champions-sports-program/
To make an anonymous donation, a donation on behalf of another person, or to donate as a gift in a friend's name, please visit www.globalgiving.com and search "Mann Deshi Foundation", or go directly to Mann Deshi's link:
http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/business-school1/
With many thanks and warm wishes for a wonderful Christmas holiday season and New Year.
Happy Holidays,
Yours Sincerely,
Vanita
Vanita Shinde
A Ray of Hope: Maandeshi bicycle project
Divya Deepak Linge is not an ordinary name,a 12 year old, studying in 7th std. Her dreams are high and beyond the horizon. She belongs to tiny village called Mhaswad and lives with thirteen family members.
The small girl has got affection towards her village. The goal of her life is to become doctor one day and in future serve her villagers.
Divya belongs to very poor family, the family ended up with facing several financial problems and hence couldn’t full fill their day to day needs. Despite of the very fact that the education is far from basic needs according to her family, Divya travels two miles every day for her schooling. Travelling every day to such a long distance for schooling is a big hurdle for her education. Her father works on basis of daily wages, and earns only 100 rupees a day, a marginal amount for the family. In order to tender a contribution towards Divya’s delicate family condition and to contribute for her bright future, Maandeshi has awarded her a bicycle ,which she can use to ride to her school.
Divya is not only a very intelligent and competitive student but also vibrant in various other curriculum activities, such as drawing, cultural programmes as well as various inter school competitions. Currently her school has awarded her a scholarship under school’s scholarship for economically backward students, nevertheless for her future education. Maandeshi Bank is keen and would sponsor under bank’s career counselling department.
Maandeshi’s bicycle project has helped Divya to reach her school. With this Maandeshi has not only facilitated her with education but also made her self dependent and given her ability to think for her own future.
India is country of millions of villages, and in these villages there are many girls like Divya having dreams for their own future. Maandeshi foundation is willing to and hence has initiated its contribution from Maharashtra’s villages fulfilling such dreams of children like Divya.
Mann Deshi greatly appreciates its donors support.
Ms. Emilia Galiano
Dear Mann Deshi Donors and Supporters,
Mann Deshi is very much thankful for your continued support to Bicycle program.
Madhuri is the oldest sister within her eight member’s family. She applied to the program after Mann Deshi Foundation informed the school she is attending that the foundation would have provided bicycles to girls who found it hard to go to school. She says, “her life has improved for the better: being able to get to school faster avoids any time wasting and gives her the chance to concentrate even more on her studies.” Her grades have improved considerably since she entered the program and, although she is just in the 7th grade, she has already started to think about her future, considering the option of enrolling into university and pursuing an engineering degree. Her family is very satisfied too. Without Mann Deshi’s donation they would not have been able to provide such means to Madhuri. She used to spend two hours walking from home to school and then back again. Her father, who is a farmer and occasionally works in constructions, thinks that the program has had a positive effect on his daughter and that in general it is a good program. Her mother, a housewife, while worried for the safety of Madhuri and requiring her to cycle safely, views positively the fact that her daughter spends less time in going to school and can finally use this time to focus on the studies. The two younger sisters of Madhuri, although they are too young for a bicycle now, are considering the idea of applying to Mann Deshi’s program in the future: at this point in time they still walk every morning from home to school, and every evening they walk all the way back.
Mann Deshi greatly appreciates its donors support.
Vanita Shinde
US Treasury Undersecretary visit to
Freedom Ride Program of Mann Deshi : (02 March, 2011)
Dear Mann Deshi Friends and Supporters,
Chetna Sinha, Founder of Mann Deshi Foundation and Mann Deshi Cooperative Bank, is pleased and honored to have official program for the visit by U.S. Treasury under Secretary to Mann Deshi Bank and Mann Deshi Foundation.
Under Secretary Lael Brainard in her visit address the press that “when Chetna Sinha had met US president Mr. Barack Obama during his Mumbai visit at Hotel Trident and she managed to explain the principles of Mann Deshi Bank to him. Soon after that US President Office began to display interest in the innovative remote doorstep banking model”. The US undersecretary was in Satara on 2nd March, 2011 as a follow-up to the visit of US president Mr. Barack Obama.
The objective for this visit was to learn more about the innovative work Mann Deshi is spearheading in rural India, including the door step service with e-card technology through rural banks
In her visit agenda for the day also included flagging off bicycles for girls. In this event Freedom Ride bicycle program for young girls was explained. This included meeting girls who have taken advantage of the free bicycle program to continue their education. Ms. Brainard asks 14 YEAR OLD Sujata who want to become engineer. In this program 20 bicycles donated to young school girls. Ms. Lael was extremely amazed with Mann Deshi’s Bicycle Program.
Mann Deshi Foundation with the support of Funds provided by Global Giving, Washington D.C., USA arranged a function on 02-03-2011 where bi-cycles, free of cost, were given to the needy and academically brilliant girl students of rural areas to enable them to continue their studies and pursue their aim and dreams.
The function was held at Ramnagar, Satara. At the end, a bi-cycle rally was flagged off by the Ms. Lael Brainard & Mrs Chetna Sinha.
The function was attended by more than 800 persons of the area which not only included the recipient girl students but local people of the area who cheered the students during rally.
The girl students were very excited and pleased to own a bi- cycle of their own. Broad smiles and confidence which reflected on their faces, made the whole atmosphere very bubbly, chirpy and divine.
Heartful of thanks to those who thought about these young girls who aspire for higher education and supported Mann Deshi Foundation’s cause by providing financial support to make the dream of these children to own a bi- cycle of their own come true.
Mann Deshi appreciates our donors support.
Affectionately,
Chetna Sinha
Vanita Shinde
Dear Mann Deshi Friends and Supporters,
Steering to School, Pedaling to Prosperity
In rural areas of India, more than 50% of girls enrolled in primary schools drop out by Class 5. Although school tuition is free, transportation costs deter rural families from sending girls to school. These families seek a mobile solution to make education a reality for their daughters.
“I want to become an engineer”. This was the aspiration of Ms. Swapa Bhandare. Mann Deshi started Freedom Ride program in support of girls who wish to continue higher education. Under this program young girl’s get bicycle to continue higher education. Lack of transport facilities force girls to drop out from school after 7th grade. Mann Deshi Foundation has provided bicycles free of cost to thousands of girls. Bicycle program helps them to travel and continue high school. After high school they also entered graduate program. Mann Deshi also organizes career development workshop for these girls. In one of the workshop Ms. Bhandare said, “Without bicycle I would have dropped out of the school and would have become wage laborers in fields. I want to become an engineer”. High schools education brought aspiration to these young girls.
Through a partnership between Mann Deshi Bank, Mann Deshi Foundation, and the SHG Federation, Freedom Ride provides bicycles to rural girls. Mann Deshi has provided more than 2,400 girls a bicycle since the start of the program.
Jaishree Chavan & Varsha Narale of Panvan High school:
14 KM from Mhaswad are proud recipient of free bicycles from Mann Deshi Mahila Sahkari Bank. Jaishree & Varsha used to walk 4 Km distance from their home to school and back home each day. Their School days were long and lots of missed and late arrivals at school and home.
Jaishree with four other siblings and Varsha with two were also in real danger of dropping out of school sans reliable transportation.Then Came Mann Deshi in the beginning of year 2010 when reliable efficient transportation to school became truth for both jaishree and Varsha.
Jaishree dream of becoming a police woman and Varsha dream of a carrier in nursing field.
Mann Deshi has helped these girls of farmer's family to ride bike to success.
Mann Deshi appreciates our donors support.
Ms. Ilse van Winssen
Dear Mann Deshi Friends and Supporters,
Thank you for your continued support of the Bicycle Project.
Under the Bicycle Project girls, who wish to continue higher education, get a bicycle. This bike makes it able for them to continue to go to school, while they otherwise would have dropped out from school. The bicycle project helps them to travel to school, which saves transportation costs.
Madhuri is 10 years old, in the 6th standard and got her bike last January. When she got the bike, she didn’t know how to cycle. Her teacher was of a great help to her, and learned her how to cycle. Her effort to learn cycling, shows that she is really eager on going to school. Her dream is continue studying and become a teacher.
The bike does not only help girls to go to school quicker, but the bike is also useful for other things. Varsha is a 12 year old girl, who is in the 7th standard. She got her bike in January 2010. Varsha lives 3 km away from her school. Before she had the bike she used to go to school by feet. She uses the bike also for the distribution of milk. Every morning, before she goes to school, she distribute milk through her village. In this way the bike is also a help for a family.
Varsha is not the only example. Also Jyoti, 13 years old and in the 7th standard, uses her bike for different purposes. When she wants to go to buy some grocery (to help her mum) she can take the bike. This saves time, as it otherwise would have been a 3 km walk.
You can help girls like Madhuri, Varsha and Jyoti by providing seed money for bicycles. Mann Deshi can send you information and pictures of the specific girl you’ve helped and provide you the opportunity to keep up with her progress in school.
Again thanks!
Vanita Shinde
Dear Mann Deshi Friends and Supporters,
Thank you for your continued support of the Bicycle Project. Under this program Mann Deshi provides bicycles to rural girls, making it possible for them to attend school.
Mann Deshi enabled life-saving heart surgery:
This is a story about the little Swapnali Shivaji Pise, who is still alive because Mann Deshi provides her family with a loan for her life saving heart operation.
Swapnali's father is a fruit vendor and her mother a daily field worker. Aside from Swapnali the parents have two more children. Since the parent's income is low and discontinuous, this brings them in a poor economical situation. Two years ago, the little Swapnali came down with a severe heart disease. Due to the difficult economical situation, they didn’t have the money for the operation. With 10 years she was severely underweight, and if she can’t get the treatment she must die. It was the last chance for her mother to go to the Mann Deshi Bank and ask for a loan. The family is really poor but the mother was a member in a Self Help Group and so she got the loan for all the expenses which are connected with the operation. Thanks to the loan Swapnali could go to the 15 hours away state hospital in Bangalore, which is specializes in heart problems. Because of her work the mother couldn’t go with her, and so her uncle accompanied her to the hospital. She stood there for two weeks long which were really hard weeks for her family. Fortunately the operation went well and today Swapnali is totally cured. She had luck it was a good hospital and the doctors did a good job and were really kind to the small girl. It took her four month till she could visit the school again because she was not strong enough and had to take medicine. Now she can laugh again and is in a good shape. MANN DESHI DONATED BICYCLE TO SWAPNALI. Today she studies hard in school to catch up the lost year. Swapnali already has plans for the future: One day she wants to be a Doctor and serve the poor people in rural area. Her family is really happy that she is physically fit again and the mother praises her, because she always works so hard in the household and helps her family wherever she can. Meanwhile even the loan of Mann Deshi is repaid. Only a large scar on the chest reminds of the bad times. So in the end, everything went well for the little Swapnali and her family.
This year in 2010 we have donated 220 more bicycles to the school girls in Mhaswad, Vaduj, Dahiwadi and Satara. I am thankful to the donors who have supported theses young girls to dream whatever they wish to. We greatly appreciate all the support you have given us so far and hope that you will be able to help us in for our future projects.
Again thanks!! Vanita Shinde
Vanita Shinde
Dear Mann Deshi Friends and Supporters,
Thank you for your continued support of the Bicycle Project.
Mann Deshi started Freedom Ride program in support of girls for who wish to continue higher education. Under this program young girls get bicycle to continue higher education. Lack of transport facilities force girls to drop out from school after 7th grade. Mann Deshi Foundation have provided bicycle to thousands of girls. Bicycle program helps them to travel and continue high school. After high school they also entered graduate program. Mann Deshi also organizes career development workshop for these girls.
What the Bicycle Project has produced……
Dhanshri Shivaji Gunjane is not an ordinary girl: although she is only twelve years old she has already achieved a lot. Dhanshri lives with her twelve member’s family in a small house in Mhaswad. She visits the seven standards in the three kilometre away school. Her family derives its income from farming, which is a hard job in the drought prone area of Maharashtra. They are in a really bad economical situation. Due to Dhanshri's excellent marks in school (93 out of 100%), she received a bike for free from a donator from Mann Deshi. Now she is faster in the school and enjoys the way every morning. She will need the bike in the next few years before she can go to university. When she will have finished the twelfth standard she wants to study mechanical engineering. Till now she won different awards in writing essays. The last award, a prize in computation with the value of 51 INR, she donated to an orphanage. Dhanshri has a diversity of ideas how the Mann Deshi Bank could help girls like her, e.g. in a few years she will need a loan or a scholarship to visit the university. Her classmates and friends call her a role model, because she is so smart, clever and has good marks. Two friends of her also got a bike from Mann Deshi. Dhanshri’s siblings are also happy that she got the bike, because it is the first bike in the whole family and Dhanshri often takes her siblings to school by bike. Her whole family is glad, that there is a Bank like Mann Deshi, because in rural areas of India few people care about the poor families and their problems. The most indigenous people need loans for their houses, the education from their children, health, marriage, computers or books. But despite all the deficits Dhanshri is really happy that she could get a own bike thanks to the help of the donators and so she wants so say “Thank you” to all people who show interest on the needs from rural girls like her.
This year in 2010 we have donated 200 more bicycles to the school girls in Mhaswad, Vaduj, Dahiwadi and Satara.
I am thankful to the donors who have supported theses young girls to dream whatever they wish to. We greatly appreciate all the support you have given us so far and hope that you will be able to help us in for our future projects.
Again thanks!! Vanita Shinde
Chetna Sinha
Dear Mann Deshi Friends and Supporters,
Thank you for your continued support of the Bicycle Project.
“I want to become an engineer”. This was an aspiration of Ms. Swapa Bhandare. Mann Deshi started Freedom Ride program in support of girls for who wish to continue higher education. Under this program young girls get bicycle to continue higher education. Lack of transport facilities force girls to drop out from school after 7th grade. Mann Deshi Foundation have provided bicycle to thousands of girls. Bicycle program helps them to travel and continue high school. After high school they also entered graduate program. Mann Deshi also organizes career development workshop for these girls. In one of the workshop Ms. Bhandare said, “Without bicycle I would have dropped out of the school and would have become wage laborers in fields.” High schools education brought aspiration to these young girls. In career development workshop one of them said “I want to become an engineer”
I am thankful to the donors who have supported theses young girls to dream whatever they wish to and also motivate to choose the option like becoming engineer.
We greatly appreciate all the support you have given us so far and hope that you will be able to help us in for our future projects.
Affectionately, Chetna
Vanita Shinde
Bicycle Project:
This proud girl is the ten years old Mohali Shivaji Pise, with her new bike, which she received five days before from donators of the “Research fellows of School of Life Sciences”. With the new bike Mohali can save a lot of time on her daily six kilometre trip to school and back. Without the support of the donators, the family could not have afforded a bike and so Mohali is even prouder to own the first bike in the family. Despite of the really bad economical situation the family managed to repay a loan for a life saving heart operation of Mohalis older sister Swapnali a few month ago.
The bike does not only help Mohali to go to school quicker but also to obtain more confidence, because she feels that other people are interested in her education. Mohali visit the rural school in Mhaswad in the fifth standard and is a really good student. In the last year she got 97% out of 100%. When she will have finished the twelfth standard she wants to go to university to become a teacher. She is curious how the other kids at school will react if they see her new bike. Especially the girls in rural India are often worse supported with material things then boys. So her whole family is glad, that there is a Bank like Mann Deshi, because in rural areas of India few people care about the poor families and their problems. The most indigenous people need loans for their houses, the education of their children, health, marriage, computers or books. But despite all the deficits Mohali is really happy that she could get an own bike thanks to the help of the donators and so she wants so say “Thank you” to all people who show interest on the needs of rural girls like her.
Vanita Shinde
Dhanshri Shivaji Gunjane is eleven years old and in the 6th grade. Her household consists of her parents, a brother and a sister, along with her uncle, aunt, grandfather, and grandmother. Dhanshri’s father is a farmer, and her entire family works in the fields or on the farm. She is a bright student who earned a 93 percent in the 5th grade and who won first prize in Computation. She donated her prize to an orphanage located in the village of Palvan. Since her school is far away from her house, Dhanshri needed a bicycle to attend. Through generous donations to the Freedom Ride project at Mann Deshi, Dhanshri can continue her education and philanthropy.
Dhanshri’s story is one of many similar stories in Mhaswad. For students who cannot afford to purchase bicycles, the Mann Deshi Foundation collects funds to purchase and donate the bicycles. These girls are academically strong and have a commitment to education. You can help support girls like Dhanshri by providing seed money for bicycles. Adopting one girl costs only $50, a class of 5 girls can be adopted for $250, and 10 girls for $500. You can also sponsor a village which has achieved 100 percent enrollment of girls in school for $2250. Mann Deshi can send you information about and pictures of the specific girls you have helped and provide you with the opportunity keep up with her progress in school.
Thank you for your continued support,
Vanita Shinde
Vanita Shinde
Freedom Ride! Banking on Bicycles in Rural India
After finishing the 7th grade, Asma Tamboli wanted to continue her education in high school. She requested a job from the Mann Deshi Mahila Bank so that she could earn money to buy a bicycle. When asked why, she replied that she had no transportation from her village to high school, and her parents had urged her to drop out because they were worried about her walking the long distance to school. Asma felt that using a bicycle to get to school would be the ideal solution but her parents could not afford one. The Bank agreed to employ her for the summer, and she was able to purchase a bicycle and continue her education.
Asma was the inspiration behind the Mann Deshi rural women’s micro-finance Bank’s Freedom Ride Bicycle Program. Asma’s story illustrates some of the main barriers facing rural girls who wish to continue their education. Poor public transportation, high costs for bicycles, and reluctance of parents to allow girls to walk long distances to school are only some of the difficulties rural girls face in pursuing their education. The Freedom Ride Bicycle Program is designed to help alleviate these problems, by providing loans at 0% interest to girls and their families to buy bicycles, and has helped prevent hundreds of girls from dropping out of school prematurely. We also have a special fund allocated for those who cannot even afford a loan but show a strong commitment to education, and we donate bicycles to these girls. The Bank is proud of Asma’s innovation and commitment to education, and continues to support others who want to follow in her footsteps.
You can help support girls like Asma by providing seed money for bicycles. Adopting one girl costs only $50, a class of 5 girls can be adopted for $250, and 10 girls for $500. You can also sponsor a village which has achieved 100% enrollment of girls in school for $2250. Mann Deshi can send you information about and pictures of the specific girls you have helped and provide you with the opportunity keep up with her progress in school.
Manndeshi
Ashwini is one of the few girls in her community completing the 11th standard in school. When she was in the 9th standard, receiving a bicycle from Mann Deshi allowed her to continue her studies and attend school without the burden of paying for bus transportation, a common cause for drop out.
Ashwini lives in Mhaswad and is the eldest of her two siblings, a brother and sister. Ashwini never borrows money from her parents. The expenses she incurs, such as buying clothes and shoes, she covers with selling sprouted vegetables in her village. She is completely self- sufficient in this way. The money that is left after covering her expenses, she uses purely for educational purposes. Mann Deshi has given bicycles to more than 2000 girls, which helps them complete their education and make their dreams come true.