American Association for Social
Advancement of India
5925 Hillview Ave, San Jose,
CA. 95123 USA
5925 Hillview Ave, San Jose,
CA. 95123 USA
Athma Research Foundation (ARF) provides internationally researched intensive behavioral
interventions to children with Autism – This is already established and ongoing through pilot
program. Athma special school is catering to nearly 50 plus autistic children and families in Tamil
Nadu.
Across the world population, 1.5% children have Mental Retardation, 1% Autism, 10% learning
disability, 11% attention deficit disorder. Autism is estimated to affect 1 in 88 children (Center
for Disease control United States). Developmental pediatricians diagnose nearly 10 kids / week with
Autism. There are approx. 1 million children in India affected by Autism across the socio-economic
strata.
ATHMA recognizes that there is a growing population of children and young adults whose parents are also ageing and are haunted by the question "what after us". To address this problem, ATHMA has embarked on the ATHMALAYAM program. The mission is to build a state of the art residential school & facility near Trichy for special children for life.
The Board at ATHMA's TRUST Shanthivanam & ARF have proven record of exemplary services & commitment, through various programs for past 2 decades, in which AASAI has collaborated from year 2008 and have been successfully executing a series of sustainable living projects to this day. In September 2015, Dr. Ramakrishnan (Chairman of TRUST Shanthivanam and ARF charitable organizations) presented the vision program called 'ATHMALAYAM' - a centre for special education. He articulated TRUST and ARF are to collaborate on yet another big transformative initiative - by building an academy that imparts a plethora of services in special education. The patrons and the executive board members of AASAI, were impressed with this noble mission
and instantly approved a donation of $50,000 USD which happened to be the first seed funding for
this project. Many more Indian expats in USA extended their pledge of support in near future and
these pledges have started coming in as tangible funds.
By September 2016, with more support & donations from local patrons & families of autistic
children, ATHMALAYAM project has completed the ground level foundation layer construction.
We recognize that these priorities cannot be managed by affected families themselves and we need to enlist support from the larger society. Your generous contributions will go a long way in building a secure and positive life for children with autism even when their parents are no more around to take care of them.
ATHMA and AASAI together have joined hands in working towards an ambitious goal of inaugurating this ATHMALAYAM center on April 2, 2017 (World Autism Awareness day) and start the first phase services to this under-served community of special children families.
We have a fund raising target of Rs. 8 Crores or $1.25 million USD, to establish full facilities in this campus and will make sure every penny donated ‘counts’ and we promise to provide updates on progress and development periodically.
Avvai Home project supports education of young girls in English medium who are from the poor section of Chennai. AASAI provides total support for the education of young girls who are from the slum areas of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It costs approximately Indian Rupees 200,000 ($5,000) per year to support their education. There of approximately 40 children in two sections in the school and the medium of instruction is English.
AASAI also provides support for the infrastructure and academic laboratory requirements in terms of equipments and models for different physical science subjects. It costs approximately Indian Rupees 20,000 ($500) per year.
Avvai home is located Adyar, Chennai. It provides education for girls. These girls come from very poor families, single parent homes and families living in slum areas. The school provides free or nearly free education to these children.
After noticing some of the children who are bright may benefit from English medium education, in the year 2005, AASAI initiated two English medium sections for approximately 40 children. AASAI provided support for two class rooms, tables, chairs, teaching material and also provides salary for two teachers.
The Avvai Home Orphanage and associated Schools, or Avvai Home, is a non-profit organization established in circa 1930 by late Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy to shelter, protect and educate the orphan girls as well as deserted women irrespective of caste, creed or social status. As a part of this objective, Avvai Home runs a TVR Girls Higher Secondary School.
The school was established in 1963 and provides education (except for a nominal fee) to over 1,500 girls who belong to the economically poor part of the society.
Little Angels was founded in 2002 by a former flight attendant, Jahangir Afshari. The school’s primary focus is to meet the challenges posed to young children with multiple disabilities. Independence, confidence, and education are the main goals of the organization.
In the mere years since it was founded, Little Angels have marvelous growth and vigor. AASAI is proud to continue its support to Little Angels. In 2004, Little Angles School renovated three rooms and a bathroom to provide better learning atmosphere for children with multiple disabilities.
In 2005, AASAI provided support initial payment for a van to transport these children from home to school and back. In addition, AASAI increased its support and commitment to Little Angles by sponsoring school fee for children whose parent cannot afford to send them to school. Please lend your support for many more needy children.
Srividyashram is an AASAI supported village school so the poor and underprivileged children in villages can receive modern education comparable to the children in city schools. AASAI has provided resources to build class rooms, library and computer Lab. Approximate contribution as of
Dec 2008 is $150,000
Shrividyashram is primary school located in Aduthurai a small village approximately 10 miles from Tanjore, Tamil Nadu, India. Srividyashram is the only English medium school amongst all the villages within a normal range from the big town of Tanjore. Approximately 300 children, including boys and girls are enrolled in pre-primary through 5th grades
Middle and high schools are being planned as the children progress through the primary grades. Each child pays a subsidized fee to the school and the fee structure is customized according to each student’s economic background and financial capability. The children receive books, uniforms and a mid-day meal at the school.
child is exposed to computers at this very early stage by having a computer in each
classroom. Younger children watch educational videos followed by activities that test
children’s comprehension capabilities.
It is easy to see the direct impact the education has had on these children. But a close
observer can
see the more important indirect economic impact these projects have had on previously
neglected
communities. The general economic prosperity as a result of job opportunities for young
women to
become teachers, seasonal farm laborers to receive year-round work, and associated service
industries to prosper, has developed a chain reaction that allows these communities to
enrich
themselves, thereby fulfilling AASAI’s mission.
A few years ago, we initiated a project with Kalanjiam, (a charity organization involved in rural development programs) to provide bi-cycles to poor students in rural village areas as a way to reduce school drop outs. AASAI has thus far provided nearly 300 bicycles. Commuting to school by bicycles saves time, reduces physical strain and enhances energy level through physical exercise. This makes the students more active / alert in the class room and improves learning. Buoyed by the success of the project, AASAI has determined to continue this project. Many of you have contributed to AASAI in this initiative. It takes a mere $75 for one cycle. AASAI is grateful for your contributions and sincerely hope that you will continue to support us in this project. Please be a part of these wheels in motion for education.
Mahavir International, Vadodara Kendra was established on September 30, 2000 with the motto “Love All – Serve All” and is part of the large and well-established social organization, Mahavir International with over 400 centres all over India and other parts of the world (Dubai, UK, USA etc). Since its inception, the Kendra has undertaken a large number of activities with particular emphasis on Education, Health as well as Supporting the Needy (in addition to our immediate as well as long-term involvement in mitigating the miseries of the victims of earthquake that shook Gujarat on January 26, 2001).
Mahavir International, Vadodara Kendra excels in the field of Education of the bright and needy and is seen to be the trend-setter. It has been consistently honoured with Excellence Award at each of the International Conventions of Mahavir International, including the last two at Tirupathi and Pushkar. Additionally, the centre Chairman was honoured with Vishishtha Seva Medal at Pushkar. The International Conventions are attended by over 2000 delegates from all over the country.